So after watching last night all our top four rivals get their fixtures for the Champions League lined up, us poor Arsenal fans have to wait an hour or so to find out who we will play in our Europa League Group Stage group.
To be fair, the most difficult opponents we could get are all in Pot 1 like us, so we can avoid the likes of Manchester United, Lazio, Braga, Red Star Belgrade, Dynamo Kyiv and Olympiacos. We certainly didn’t want the Greeks after our last two meetings!
But we will get drawn against one club each from Pots 2, 3. and 4, and these are the names that are going into the hat….
Pot 2: Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven, Rennes, Monaco, Real Sociedad, Qarabag, Malmo, Ludogorets
Pot 4: Nantes, HJK, Sturm Graz, AEK Larnaca, Omonia, Zurich, Union Saint-Gilloise, Trabzonspor
So what would be your dream draw out of those? Surely we want easy games to give our second string an easy run, but then again, maybe the tougher the better!
One thing I don’t want is a trip to Azerbaijan to face Qarabag….
Who would you like us to draw this afternoon?
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Damn we just drew PSV – no Gakpo transfer for us then 🙁
Group A: Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Bodo/Glimt, FC Zurich
At least we didn’t get Betis from Pot C! That could’ve been awkward.
Full draw:
Group A: Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Bodo/Glimt, Zurich
Group B: Dynamo Kyiv, Rennes, Fenerbahce, AEK Larnaca
Group C: Ludogorets, Real Betis, HJK Helsinki
Group D: Braga, Malmo, Union berlin, Union Saint-Gilloise
Group E: Manchester United, Real Sociedad, FC Sheriff, Omonoia
Group F: Lazio, Feyenoord, Midtjylland, Sturm Graz
Group G: Olympiakos, Qarabag, Freiburg, Nantes
Group H: Red Star Belgrade, Monaco, Ferencvaros, Trabzonspor
Man Utd get Sheriff – didn’t they beat RM in Spain last season? hehe