Arsenal's rocky summer that has seen them lose defenders in the transfer market without bringing in replacements, the impending sale of Cesc Fabregas and strengthening of Premier League top four challengers to threaten their spot in the Champions League for next season just got worse. Their spot in this season's Champions League has been threatened as the Gunners have been drawn against Udinese in the play-off round of the competition, putting their spot in the group stage in peril.
Arsenal Vs. Udinese Highlights UEFA Champions League Play-Off Round Draw
Arsenal’s tough summer got worse when they were drawn against Udinese in the Champions League play-off round draw
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Udinese surged to fourth place in Serie A a year ago with brilliant, open attacking football led by Antonio Di Natale and Alexis Sanchez. The problem is that Sanchez has since been sold to Barcelona and so has sturdy midfielder Gokhan Inler, but they still have more than enough to put a scare into an Arsenal back line that can only be called shaky on a good day.
Elsewhere in the play-off round draw is Dutch Eredivisie stalwart FC Twente taking on traditional Portuguese power Benfica and Olympique Lyonnais squaring off against Rubin Kazan. All three of the most intriguing ties come via the league route of the play-off round, while the champions route has produced five ties between smaller and lesser-known clubs.
The winners of the two-legged ties will advance to the prestigious group stage with a financial reward of as much as £17.4 million. The play-off round tis will be played the week of August 15 and 22.
League Route:
Odense vs. Villareal
FC Twente vs. Benfica
Arsenal vs. Udinese
Bayern Munich vs. FC Zurich
Lyon vs. Rubin Kazan
Champions Route:
Wisla Krakow vs. APOEL Nicosia
Maccabi Haifa vs. Genk
Dinamo Zagreb vs. Malmo
FC Copenhagen vs. Viktoria Pizen
BATE Barisov vs. SK Sturm Graz
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