Europa League draw: Arsenal and Everton face challenging tests

AUREVOIR

12:55: Thanks for joining me today folks. Keep an eye on the website for more reaction to today’s Europa League draw.

12:50: So what’s the consensus on that draw for our British representatives?

Well, it’s certainly a challenging test for the par.

Arsenal were drawn to play Belarus' BATE Borisov, Cologne of Germany and Serbia's Red Star Belgrade in Group H.

Everton will play France's Lyon - hosts of this season's final - Italy's Atalanta and Apollon Limassol of Cyprus in Group E.

Both English sides face difficult tasks to advance to the knockout stages when the group phase begins on September 14.

12:48: Apollon Limassol's last trip to England for a European match was in 1992, losing 6-1 v Liverpool with Ian Rush scoring four.

THE DRAW IN FULL

Group A: Villarreal, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Astana, Slavia Prague

Group B: Dynamo Kiev, Young Boys, Partizan Belgrade, Skenderbeu

Group C: Braga, Ludogorets, Hoffenheim, Istanbul Basaksehir

Group D: AC Milan, Austria Vienna, NK Rijeka, AEK Athens

Group E: Lyon, Everton,Atalanta, Apollon Limassol

Group F: FC Copenhagen, Lokomotiv Moscow, Sheriff Tiraspol, FC Zlin

Group G: Viktoria Plzen, Steaua Bucharest, Hapoel Beer-Sheva, FC Lugano

Group H: Arsenal,BATE Borisov, Cologne, Red Star Belgrade

Group I: Salzburg, Marseille, Vitoria Guimaraes, Konyaspor

Group J: Athletic Bilbao, Hertha Berlin, Zorya Luhansk, Ostersunds

Group K: Lazio, Nice, Zulte Waregem, Vitesse Arnhem.

Group L: Zenit, Real Sociedad, Rosenborg, Vardar Skopje

12:40: Paul Pogba has the very first Europa League player of the Year award… It’s held in such high esteem that he’s not gone to collect it in person.

12:37: Everton have been drawn against Lyon, Atalanta and Apollon Limassol in the Europa League group stage. Group E.

12:36: Arsenal have been drawn against BATE Borisov, Cologne and Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League group stage. Group H.

12:36: EVERTON'S FINAL OPPONENT IS APOLLON LIMASSOL

12:35: RED STAR BELGRADE COMPLETE ARSENAL'S GROUP

12:34: Istanbul Basaksehir won't play a Premier League side. They've been drawn in Group C alongside Braga, Hoffenheim and Ludogorets.

12:33: Arsenal and Everton will both want to avoid Istanbul Basaksehir, who very nearly knocked Sevilla out of the Champions League last night. I’d say they were the best side in Pot 4.

12:30: FC KOLN HAVE BEEN ADDED TO ARSENAL’S GROUP

12:29: ATALANTA HAVE ALSO BEEN DRAWN IN EVERTON'S GROUP

12:27: Everton have the trickier opponent obviously, but Ronald Koeman will be pleased with a quick trip over to France.

12:25: EVERTON WILL PLAY LYON IN GROUP E

12:24: ARSENAL HAVE BEEN JOINED BY BATE BORISOV IN GROUP H

12:23: Everton have avoided AC Milan folks.

12:20: Maccabi Tel-Aviv go into Group A alongside Villarreal. So Everton won’t be joining them.

12:18: Arsenal have been drawn in Group H. They're currently the only side in it.

12:16: Henrik Larsson and Eric Abidal are currently drawing all of the Pot 1 sides out now.

12:13: Jeeeez, these rules and regulations are taking an insane amount of time. Really milking this one…

12:11: Moments away folks… We’re just receiving a comprehensive reminder of all the rules and regulations from bore-master Giorgio Marchetti, who is essentially a UEFA-created robot.

12:10: Eric Abidal is the other fella pulling the balls out the pot (wrong again…) and is looking on tip-top form.

12:05: Thank God that’s over. Surviving the techno music was the toughest part. Henrik Larsson will be unscrewing the balls (that sounds wrong) today. He’s just been introduced with an equally appalling montage.

12:00: The coverage has begun folks. We're barely 30 seconds into the draw and have been subjected to a montage of last season’s highlights. This could take a while...

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Ian: Looking forward to the Europa League draw to be honest loads of destinations I haven't been to.

Tom: Have run all the potential permutations and turns out the only possible interesting Europa League draw is Bendtner returning to Arsenal…

Jay: Would like to wish all Arsenal fans the best of luck in the Europa League draw today… Bet you can't wait. LOL.

11:55: We’ve already seen the goal of the season.

That’s certainly what Ronald Koeman thinks after seeing Gylfi Sigurdsson produce a spectacular long-range lob at Hajduk Split last night.

If you haven’t seen it, go and search for it now. Honestly, I’ll wait…

11:50: How does the draw work? 

It’s rather simple really. Arsenal have been entered into Pot 1, while Everton are in Pot 2. They will be kept apart until the last 16.

You want to know the worst possible outcome, right?

The Gunners could potentially face Marseille, Hoffenheim and Istanbul Basaksehir.

Everton’s group of death would be AC Milan, Hoffenheim and Istanbul Basaksehir.

11:40: Thursday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday…

The irregular fixtures and start times seem to be the main problem with Europa League football.

But just how much will the Europa League affect Everton and Arsenal's domestic campaigns?

Here’s a couple of statistics courtesy of Bwin that might makes things clearer.

• Teams that go from no European football to the Europa League, lose an average of 4 points – Everton have spent upwards of £100million and can't afford to lose pace on the top
• Teams improve by 3 points when leaving Europa League to no European football – Southampton and West Ham will look to improve their league position with no midweek games abroad to focus on.
• Teams improve on average 5 points when going from Champions League to Europa League – It's not all doom and gloom for Arsenal, as a additional 5 points would see them climb back into the top 4.

11:30: Good morning folks, welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Europa League draw.

Arsenal supporters will be unfamiliar to the Europa League format having competed in the Champions League every season since 2000.

But Everton fans know the drill.

They’ve already played four qualifying matches to reach the group stage, and understand arduous nature of the competition.

That a positive enough start? Nope, didn’t think so...

Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage of the 2017/2018 Europa League draw

Arsenal enter their first European competition outside the Champions League since 1999/2000

Everton are in pot two after last night's aggregate victory over Hadjuk Split

Pot 1: Arsenal, Zenit St Petersburg, Lyon, Dynamo Kiev, Villarreal, Athletic Bilbao, Lazio, AC Milan, Viktoria Plzen, Salzburg, FC Copenhagen, Braga

Pot 2: Steaua Bucharest, Ludogorets, BATE Borisov, Everton, Young Boys, Marseille, Real Sociedad, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Lokomotiv Moscow, Austria Vienna, Hertha Berlin, Nice

Pot 3: Astana, Partizan Belgrade, Hoffenheim, Cologne, NK Rijeka, Vitoria Guimaraes, Atalanta, Zulte Waregem, Zorya Luhansk, Rosenborg, Sheriff Tiraspol, Hapoel Beer-Sheva

Pot 4: Apollon Limassol, Istanbul Basaksehir, Konyaspor, Vitesse Arnhem, Slavia Prague, Red Star Belgrade, Skenderbeu, FC Zlin, AEK Athens, FC Lugano, Vardar Skopje, Ostersunds

Everton will be kept apart from Arsenal in the draw.

The first group stage matches will be played on September 14 and the last on December 7 with the final scheduled in Lyon on May 16, 2018.