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Arsenal Europa League draw: Who are Gunners’ best and worst possible opponents in the group stage?

Arsenal are reluctantly breaking new ground and could take on some weird and wonderful teams in the Europa League

ARSENAL are preparing for life in the Europa League and will find out their opponents in today's draw.

A host of weird and wonderful opponents could await the Gunners, who last played in the competition in 2000 - losing the final to Galatasaray on penalties.

 Arsene Wenger has not managed in the Europa League since it was called the Uefa Cup
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Arsene Wenger has not managed in the Europa League since it was called the Uefa CupCredit: Getty Images - Getty

And they will be looking to go one better this year and repeat Manchester United's feat in winning the competition.

A host of faces from the club's past could also be rocking up at the Emirates, depending on the draw.

Here is all you need to know about the Gunners' potential group stage opponents.

Who will Arsenal definitely not face?

Arsenal are the highest ranked team in the Europa League and have been drawn in Pot 1.

There are 11 other teams in the pot who the Gunners will definitely not be facing.

A tough trip to Russia to take on Zenit St Petersburg will be avoided, as well as matches against former European giants like AC Milan and Lazio.

Big hitters Dynamo Kiev, Lyon, Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao will also be avoided.

The other teams Arsenal will not play against are Viktoria Plzen, Red Bull Salzburg, FC Copenhagen and Braga.

Everton are in Pot 2, but Arsenal cannot play against other English teams until the knockout stages.

Who can Arsenal face?

Pot 2 is where most of the danger will come from for the Gunners.

Real Sociedad, Dimitri Payet's Marseille and Mario Balotelli's Nice could certainly be a match for Arsene Wenger's men on their day.

The other teams in the pot are Hertha Berlin, Steaua Bucharest (FCSB), Ludogorets, BATE Borisov, Maccabi Tel Aviv, L0komotiv Moscow, Young Boys and Austria Vienna.

Pot 3 could see a return to Arsenal for Nicklas Bendtner, who now plays for Rosenborg.

 A reunion with Nicklas Bendtner (left) could be on the cards
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A reunion with Nicklas Bendtner (left) could be on the cardsCredit: Reuters

The highest quality teams in the pot are Italian side Atalanta and German duo 1.FC Koln and Hoffenheim.

Elsewhere in Pot 3, as well as Pot 4, there are some intimidating looking away trips.

The remaining teams in Pot 3 are Astana, Partizan Belgrade, Rijeka, Vitoria Guimaraes, Zulte Waregem, Zorya Luhansk, Sheriff Tiraspol and Hapoel Beer Sheva.

In Pot 4, the standout club are arguably Vitesse Arnhem - Chelsea's finishing school.

The Gunners could also face a hostile reunion with Emmanuel Adebayor, who now plies his trade for Istanbul Basaksehir.

 Emmanuel Adebayor looks despondent after coming agonisingly close to knocking Sevilla out of the Champions League
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Emmanuel Adebayor looks despondent after coming agonisingly close to knocking Sevilla out of the Champions LeagueCredit: Reuters

The Turkish side were a goal away from knocking Spanish giants Sevilla out of the Champions League.

Pot 4's other sides are Red Star Belgrade, Apollon Limassol, Konyaspor, Slavia Prague, Skenderbeu Korce, Fastav Zlin, AEK Athens, Lugano, Vardar and Ostersund.

What are Arsenal's best and worst possible groups?

Best possible group: ARSENAL, Austria Vienna, Zulte Waregem, Fastav Zlin

Worst possible group: ARSENAL, Real Sociedad, Atalanta, Istanbul Basaksehir

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