The Uefa Europa League draw for 2017-2018 season has just been concluded on Friday. The draw sees Arsenal and Everton face challenging tests on their return to the Europa League following Friday’s group stage draw in Monaco.
Both English sides face difficult tasks to advance to the knockout stages when the group phase begins on September 14.
It is the first time in 20 years that Arsenal have started a European campaign in the Europa League.
The Gunners had advanced to the knockout stages of the Champions League but lost in the first knock-out round in the last seven seasons and failed to qualify for the tournament through the Premier League in 2016-17.
Everton, who completed their play-off victory over Hajduk Split of Croatia on Thursday, are in Europe for the first time since 2009-10.
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.
Manchester United won the trophy in May to qualify for the Champions League.
United and France midfielder Paul Pogba was named Europa League Player of the Season for 2016-17, ahead of team-mates Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Below is the full draw
Group A: Villareal, M Tel-Aviv, Astana, Slavia Praha
Group B: Dynamo Kyiv, Young Boys, Partizan, Skendebeu
Group C: Braga, Ludogorets, Hoffenheim, Istanbul Basaksehir
Group D: Milan, Austria Wien, Rijeka, AEK Athens
Group E: Lyon, Everton, Atalanta, Apollo Limassol
Group F: Kobenhavin, Lokomotiv Moscow, Sheriff, Zlin
Group G: Pizen, FCSB, H Beer-Sheva, Lugano
Group H: Arsenal, BATE Borisov, Koln, Crvena zvezda
Group I: Salzburg, Marseille, Vitoria SC, Konyaspor
Group J: Athletic Club, Hertha, Zarya, Ostersund
Group K: Lazio, Lazio, Zulte Waregem, Vitesse
Group L: Zenit, Real Sociedad, Rosenborg, Vardar
