Europa draw: Arsenal play Ostersunds, Atletico Madrid Tackle Coppenhagen

Arsenal have been drawn against Swedish club Ostersunds FK in the Europa League round of 32, while Atletico Madrid take on Copenhagen.

Arsenal, who secured top spot in their Europa League group, are still seeking their first European trophy under Arsene Wenger and will be confident of progress.

Diego Simeone's Atletico, who reached the Champions League final in both 2014 and 2016, enter the competition after unexpectedly finishing third behind Roma and Chelsea in their Champions League group.

They face Danish club Copenhagen as their first Europa League fixture as they seek a repeat of their successes in the competition in 2010 and 2012.

The official result of the Round of 32 #UELdraw!

Most exciting tie? ???? pic.twitter.com/166NCzW7wq

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) December 11, 2017

AC Milan, now under coach Gennaro Gattuso, play Bulgarian club Ludogorets Razgrad.

Milan had a disappointing spell after their summer spending spree but the Europa League offers the seven-time European champions a chance to enjoy a successful season.

Borussia Dortmund, who finished third in their Champions League group behind Tottenham and Real Madrid, resume European action under new boss Peter Stoger against Serie A side Atalanta.

Italian side Napoli take on German club RB Leipzig, with both sides having dropped out of the Champions League.

Elsewhere, Celtic play Zenit St Petersburg, Lazio take on Romanian side FCSB and Lyon face Villarreal.

Ties to be played Feb. 15 and 22

Borussia Dortmund vs. Atalanta

Nice vs. Lokomotiv Moscow

FC Copenhagen vs. Atletico Madrid

Spartak Moscow vs. Athletic Bilbao

AEK Athens vs. Dynamo Kiev

Celtic vs. Zenit St Petersburg

Napoli vs. RB Leipzig

Red Star Belgrade vs. CSKA Moscow

Lyon vs. Villarreal

Real Sociedad vs. Red Bull Salzburg

Partizan Belgrade vs. Viktoria Plzen

FCSB vs. Lazio

Ludogorets Razgrad vs. AC Milan

Astana vs. Sporting Lisbon

Ostersunds FK vs. Arsenal

Marseille vs. Braga

Read More

Mathew Debuchy Having A Surprise Return To The First Team

Debuchy was a surprise presence in the Gunners squad that travelled to Belgrade for a Europa League tie last summer having been ostracised by Wenger at the end of last year.

Wenger had said before the opening of the January 2017 transfer window that the 32-year-old was free to leave, accusing Debuchy of lying about a failed move to Manchester United.

Summer transfers to Brighton and Nice fell apart but it seemed Debuchy was unlikely to feature again until both Shkodran Mustafi and Calum Chambers were ruled out through injury, after which Wenger gave the former France international starts against Red Star Belgrade and Norwich in the EFL Cup.

Barring a late error in the latter game that should have seen Norwich awarded a penalty, Debuchy has performed credibly, doing enough to earn Wenger’s trust again.

“We are all very pleased for him here because he has gone through some very difficult moments with setbacks,” Wenger said. “The fact that he got through 120 minutes the other night is a huge boost for him. He needs to recover now but from now on, he’ll be a candidate to fight for the team places again.

“Mathieu is absolutely strong and determined as well. He’s a quiet character but a very strong one. I must say he’s 100 per cent a professional player. Everybody in the medical department just says he’s exceptional.

“Maybe his future is as a centre-back. He has the attributes because, despite his size, he’s very good in the air. You think he couldn’t play centre back because he’s not tall, but if you look at the number of balls he wins in the air, it’s impressive.”

Debuchy will hope to play again the Europa League when Red Star Belgrade visit the Emirates on Thursday, though Chambers is in line to feature having overcome a hip injury.

Read More