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Europa League draw AS IT HAPPENED: Arsenal and Celtic learn their fate
THE EUROPA LEAGUE last-32 fixtures have been drawn, with Arsenal and Celtic learning their fate.
Arsenal draw Swedish side Ostersunds in Europa League last 32
Arsenal cruised into the Europa League last-32 after a routine group stage performance.
The Gunners were one of the top seeds for the draw and have been paired with Swedish side Ostersunds.
Celtic were also in the hat after dropping down from the Champions League.
The Hoops finished third in their group, claiming just three points from games against PSG, Bayern Munich and Anderlecht.
And they face a tricky clash against Zenit.
Check out all the updates below…
The Europa League draw starts at 12noon
Europa League draw fixtures in full
DORTMUND V ATALANTA
NICE V LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW
FC COPENHAGEN V ATLETICO MADRID
SARTAK MOSCOW V BILBAO
AEK ATHENS V DYNAMO KYEV
CELTIC V ZENIT
NAPOLI V RB LEIPZIG
RED STAR BELGRADE V CSKA MOSCOW
LYON V VILLARREAL
SOCIEDAD V SALZBURG
PARTIZAN BELGRADE V VIKTORIA PLZEN
BUCHAREST V LAZIO
LODOGORETS V AC MILAN
ASTANA V SPORTING LISBON
OSTERSUNDS V ARSENAL
MARSEILLE V BRAGA
Arsenal will play Ostersunds FK in the Europa League last-32
Europa League draw reaction
13:40: The Ostersunds FK website has crashed by the way. Well done the google army! Everyone will be an expert on them in no time, one expects.
Hang on… it’s working now! A ‘dream draw’ they are calling it in Sweden.
Ostersunds’ English manager Graham Potter said: "I think it's really cool to go home to England and meet one of the best teams in the Premier League.
“Now we really are underdogs.”
We’re still awaiting reaction from Arsenal and Celtic over the draw.
But Zenit manager Sergei Fursenko has spoken. And he seems to have known something no one else did…
“Honestly, I thought that this would be our draw,” he said.
The Europa League draw is underway
Where?
12:43: So that’s it. The draw is over. What a gripping event that was.
Arsenal will head to Sweden for a trip to Ostersund.
Where is Ostersund? Well, if you go to Stockholm and then head north, and then a bit further, and a bit further. When you get tired head further still and eventually you’ll get there. Ostersund is not quite in the Artic Circle but it’s darn close!
As for Celtic, they will travel to St Petersburg on 22 February. That’s a five-hour flight… or a 38-hour drive.
Live updates
12:30: Arsenal get Ostersunds! Quick, get Googling Ostersunds now!!!
12:28: Close! Arsenal avoid Ludogorets in a one-in-three chance. AC Milan drawn out.
12:25: So, Celtic will play home in the first leg and face a trip to Russia in February. Nice.
We’re still awaiting Arsenal…
12:23: Celtic will play… ZENIT! What a horrible draw. Meanwhile, Napoli v RB Leipzig may be the pick of the draw.
12:14: We're underway! Dortmund vs Atalanta is first out… Arsenal and Celtic fans may have to wait a while here.
Draw time
12:06: Right then, the montages are over. It’s time for the draw…
Who do Celtic want?
11:56: You may well look at the list of Celtic’s proposed opponents and take a big gulp. This could be tricky for the Hoops.
Arsenal are a possible opponent, as well as Atletico Madrid, CSKA Moscow and Sporting Lisbon.
Celtic would probably gladly accept Atalanta, Lazio or Salzburg - at least they’re decent European trips for the fans.
But Moscow in February doesn’t appeal much to anyone.
Viktoria Plzen may be the one fans want… but beware of this Czech side. They’ve developed a decent European pedigree in recent years.
Arsenal want to avoid…
11:52: So, who do Arenal NOT want? Well a trip to Spartak Moscow is probably not on Arsene Wenger’s wish list, nor is Partizan Belgrade.
Wenger will not want Borussia Dortmund or Napoli either.
There are three French teams Arsenal could face in Lyon, Marseille and Nice.
Maybe a warm-weather trip to Spain would appease the Gunners manager.
Or even a nip over to Copenhagen.
Celtic enter the Europa League after crashing out of the Champions League
Who can Arsenal play in the Europa League?
11:40: Here are the teams Arsenal can get in the Europa League last-32
Arsenal: AEK Athens, Astana, Borussia Dortmund, Celtic, Copenhagen, Steaua Bucharest, Ludogorets, Lyon, Marseille, Napoli, Nice, Östersund, Partizan Belgrade, Real Sociedad, Spartak Moscow
Who can Celtic play in the Europa League?
11:35: Here are the teams Celtic can get in the Europa League last-32
Celtic: AC Milan, Arsenal, Atalanta, Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid, Braga, CSKA Moskow, Dynamo Kiev, Lazio, Leipzig, Lokomotiv Moskow, Plzeň, Salzburg, Sporting CP, Villarreal, Zenit
Arsenal impressed in their Europa League group campaign
Europa League seeded teams
11:30: Here are the seeded and unseeded teams for the Europa League
Seeded: AC Milan (ITA), Arsenal (ENG), Atalanta (ITA), Athletic Bilbao (ESP), Atletico Madrid* (ESP), Braga (POR), CSKA Moskow* (RUS), Dynamo Kiev (UKR), Lazio (ITA), Leipzig* (GER), Lokomotiv Moskow (RUS), Plzeň (CZE), Salzburg (AUT), Sporting CP* (POR), Villarreal (ESP), Zenit (RUS)
Unseeded: AEK Athens (GRE), Astana (KAZ), Borussia Dortmund* (GER), Celtic* (SCO), Copenhagen (DEN), Red Star Belgrade (SRB), Steaua Bucharest (ROU), Ludogorets (BUL), Lyon (FRA), Marseille (FRA), Napoli* (ITA), Nice (FRA), Östersund (SWE), Partizan Belgrade (SRB), Real Sociedad (ESP), Spartak Moskow* (RUS)
Manchester United won the Europa League last season
Europa League draw
11:15: Welcome to our live coverage of the Europa League draw.
Of course, we will be focusing on the two British sides.
Arsenal are one of the favourites to win this tournament.
And Celtic should give it a good crack, with the Scottish Premiership already looking like theirs for another year.
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