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Arsenal draw Udinese in Champions League play-off
Gunners manager Arsene Wenger is handed arguably the toughest possible route to the group stages with stern Italian opposition awaiting in the competition's play-off round
5 Aug 2011 11:14:00
By George Ankers
Getty Images
Arsenal have been drawn against Udinese in the Champions League play-off to decide who reaches the group stage.
The Italian side, who finished fourth in Serie A last season to qualify for the competition, represent arguably the toughest team that the Gunners could have come up against.
The first leg will take place on August 16 at the Emirates Stadium, while Arsenal will travel to Italy for the second leg on August 24.
The Gunners will not be at full strength for the first leg, with Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie suspended for the home leg, and doubts still linger over whether talisman and captain Cesc Fabregas will play.
The Spanish midfielder is reportedly hoping to make sure he is not cup-tied for the competition ahead of a potential move to Barcelona.
Udinese have sold star forward Alexis Sanchez to the Catalan giants this summer but remain formidable opposition.
Arguably the other highlight of the draw pits French side Lyon against Russian outfit Rubin Kazan.
German heavyweights Bayern Munich will face FC Zurich, FC Twente of the Eredivisie will play Benfica, and Odense come up against Spanish side Villarreal in the rest of the League Route of the draw.
In the Champions Route, Polish side Wisla Krakow meet APOEL of Cyprus, and Maccaba Haifa of Israel will play Genk.
Copenhagen have been drawn against Czech champions Viktoria Plzen, Belarusian side BATE Borisov face Sturm Graz, and Dinamo Zagreb take on Malmo, who conquered Scottish champions Rangers in the previous round of qualifying.
All first-leg ties will be played on either August 16 or 17, with the second-leg matches taking place a week later on either August 23 or 24.
The draw in full:
The Italian side, who finished fourth in Serie A last season to qualify for the competition, represent arguably the toughest team that the Gunners could have come up against.
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The first leg will take place on August 16 at the Emirates Stadium, while Arsenal will travel to Italy for the second leg on August 24.
The Gunners will not be at full strength for the first leg, with Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie suspended for the home leg, and doubts still linger over whether talisman and captain Cesc Fabregas will play.
The Spanish midfielder is reportedly hoping to make sure he is not cup-tied for the competition ahead of a potential move to Barcelona.
Udinese have sold star forward Alexis Sanchez to the Catalan giants this summer but remain formidable opposition.
Arguably the other highlight of the draw pits French side Lyon against Russian outfit Rubin Kazan.
German heavyweights Bayern Munich will face FC Zurich, FC Twente of the Eredivisie will play Benfica, and Odense come up against Spanish side Villarreal in the rest of the League Route of the draw.
In the Champions Route, Polish side Wisla Krakow meet APOEL of Cyprus, and Maccaba Haifa of Israel will play Genk.
Copenhagen have been drawn against Czech champions Viktoria Plzen, Belarusian side BATE Borisov face Sturm Graz, and Dinamo Zagreb take on Malmo, who conquered Scottish champions Rangers in the previous round of qualifying.
All first-leg ties will be played on either August 16 or 17, with the second-leg matches taking place a week later on either August 23 or 24.
The draw in full:
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