UEFA Europa League group stage draw: The best & worst-case scenarios for Arsenal

Sure, the Champions League draw was cool and all but the real magic gets underway at Friday lunchtime.

That’s right, Arsenal will learn their group stage opponents for the 2022/23 Europa League campaign after they saw arch-rivals Spurs get paired against three sides that wouldn’t look out of place in Europe’s secondary club competition in Thursday’s draw.

The Gunners, who are returning to European competition following a brief exodus, will be in Pot 1 for Friday’s draw. The likes of Manchester United, AS Roma, Lazio and familiar foes Olympiacos are also in the premier pot, but there’s still a possibility that Arsenal are drawn against some relatively heavy continental hitters.

UEFA Europa League group stage draw: The best & worst case scenarios for Arsenal

Mikel Arteta’s young and dynamic side will be expected to progress no matter what, but here are the best and worst-case scenarios for Arsenal in Friday’s Europa League draw.

Best case

1. Arsenal

2. Malmo

3. Ferencvaros

4. Union Saint-Gillloise

There are a couple of teams Arsenal will be hoping to avoid in Pot 2 for various reasons. Monaco are a side with serious Champions League pedigree, while Real Sociedad boast the technical proficiency to frustrate any side despite their likely loss of striker Alexander Isak.

Swedish outfit Malmo would be a comfortable opponent from the second pot. They were pretty woeful in the Champions League last season and the flight north hopefully wouldn’t take too much out of the squad.

It’s a similar story for Pot 3. Ferencvaros have looked drastically out of their depth in the Champions League and should fare better in the Europa. Nevertheless, the Gunners will fancy their chances of picking the Hungarian champions apart. Midtjylland would also be a decent draw.

Union Saint-Gillloise gave Rangers a scare in their Champions League qualifier, but they’d be the ideal opponents from Pot 4 considering their lack of experience and close-ish proximity to north London.

Worst case

1. Arsenal

2. Qarabag

3. Real Betis

4. Trabzonspor

As I noted in the introduction, Arsenal will fancy their chances against anybody in this competition so they shouldn’t be too concerned even if they draw the highest ranked teams from each pot.

Many will look at Qarabag from Pot 2 as the nightmare scenario for the Gunners because of the distance they’ll have to travel. It’ll be just the five-and-a-half hour flight for Arteta’s men ahead of a Premier League clash on the weekend. Not ideal.

In terms of talent, Ruud van Nistelrooy’s PSV Eindhoven stick out from the second pot.

Real Betis, meanwhile, would be a brilliant away day for supporters but Manuel Pellegrini’s side will be tough opposition for the Gunners. They enjoyed a fine 2021/22 campaign; winning the Copa del Rey and finishing fifth in La Liga.

Finally, Turkish champions Trabzonspor are far and away the best team in Pot 4. The air mileage isn’t ideal – think about the planet! – and they’re genuinely a pretty good team that’ll be a nightmare to face away from home.