Europa League draw simulated: Arsenal handed dream…

Europa League draw simulated: Arsenal handed dream group, Man United to face nightmare trips

It's Europa League group stage draw day and Arsenal are among 32 sides eagerly waiting to see who they will be paired with en route to Budapest, Hungary.

The Gunners, under former head coach Unai Emery, came close to getting their hands on the trophy in May 2019 but were beaten 4-1 by Premier League rivals Chelsea in the final. If they can go one better this year then they will be back in the Champions League next season following a six-year absence.

Despite a perfect start to the new season and hope of a top-four finish, this competition still represents a fantastic chance for Arsenal to seal a return to Europe's top table and they've been handed somewhat of a boost by being placed in Pot 1 for the group stage draw.

This means the Gunners will avoid the likes of AS Roma, Lazio, Braga and Dynamo Kyiv. Furthermore, as per UEFA's ruling that clubs from the same association cannot be drawn against each other, Mikel Arteta's side can't face Manchester United in the group stage either.

So who could Arsenal get? Well, we used a group stage simulator to determine who the north London outfit as well as the Red Devils and Jose Mourinho's Roma - the inaugural winners of the Europa Conference League - might draw, and it's safe to say the results were fascinating.

As seen in the image below, the simulation has been rather kind to Arsenal. Drawn in Group G alongside Dutch side PSV Eindhoven, Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt and FC Zurich of Switzerland, that would certainly be an ideal group for the Gunners and one they'd expect to progress from.

It's a little more difficult for Man United in terms of travel as the simulator has handed Erik Ten Hag's side trips to Bulgaria, Moldova and Cyprus to face Ludogorets, FC Sheriff and AEK Larnaca respectively. Like Arsenal, that is a group the Red Devils would expect to progress from as wins at Old Trafford should do the trick.

Elsewhere, Roma should fancy their chances of getting past Malmo, Union Berlin and HJK if this simulator is proven correct whilst Lazio vs Feyenoord, Monaco vs Real Betis and Olympiacos vs Fenerbahce would be some standout fixtures to look forward to for the neutrals.