NYON ( Switzerland): Arsenal must overcome Serie A opposition in the shape of Udinese if Arsene Wenger’s team are to make it to the Champions League group stages for the 14th successive season.
The Gunners were pitted against the Italian side in the draw for the Champions league playoffs held at UEFA headquarters in Nyon on Friday.
This will be a first ever meeting between Arsenal, the beaten finalists in 2006, and Udinese, who last made it into the group stage that same season.
The draw also featured two previous winners of Europe’s top club competition, with Bayern Munich facing Swiss side FC Zurich and former titleholders from Portugal Benfica up against Dutch league runners-up FC Twente.
Malmo, who knocked out Scottish giants Rangers in the third qualifying round this week, were rewarded with a match-up against Croatian league champions Dynamo Zagreb.
Russian outfit Rubin Kazan, who caused a stir when beating Barcelona 2-1 in the group stage two seasons ago, will not prove easy pickings for Lyon of France.
Rubin booked their play-off place with a 4-1 aggregate qualifying win over Dynamo Kiev.
The first legs will be played on August 16/17 with the second legs on August 23/24.
The ten play-off winners will then join the 22 automatically qualified teams for the group stage draw to be held in Monaco on August 25.
The final for this season’s competition will be held at Bayern Munich’s stadium in May next year. (Agencies)