Should Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund really be in the same group?

This week, Arsenal will face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League group stage for the third time in four seasons. The Champions League is Europe's elite club competition, but do two of Europe's biggest and strongest teams deserve to be in the same group?

The groups for the Champions League are chosen by picking four teams from four different pots/seeds. This year, Arsenal are in pot one and Borussia Dortmund are in pot two. This bodes two questions: Do Arsenal deserve to be in pot one? And do Borussia Dortmund deserve to be in pot two? UEFA think that the answer to both those questions is yes, but fans of both sides, and maybe some neutrals, may disagree. 

Should Arsenal be in pot one?

To Arsenal fans the obvious answer would be yes. But, Arsenal's recent Champions League endeavours haven't been great. Arsenal last got to the quarter-finals in 2010, with their most recent semi-final being a year earlier. The fact that Arsenal consistently play Champions League football helps, Liverpool have dropped to third seed due to their lack of European football recently. Arsenal are helped by England's ranking in the UEFA country coefficient, that could be the reason that Arsenal remain in pot one. Hypothetically, if the top 32 teams in the UEFA coefficient had all qualified for the Champions League Arsenal would be in the same pot as Borussia Dortmund, due to the Gunners' 10th place ranking this year, below Benfica and Valencia. 

Should Borussia Dortmund be in pot two?

Borussia Dortmund first broke back into the Champions League in 2011, the former winners were placed in pot four on their return to Europe's elite competition. Since their return in 2011, Borussia Dortmund have risen through the pots and they broke back into pot two this season. In their three full seasons back in the Champions League, they have exited at the group stage, reached a quarter-final and reached a final. Borussia Dortmund are the only finalists since 2010, bar Inter Milan who didn't qualify, not be to top seed this season. Based on their recent Champions League history Borussia Dortmund really should be in pot one. 

Overall, it's a bit unfair for two of Europe's top sides to be in the same group, therefore they should be in the same Champions League pot. If that pot is pot one or two for you to decide...