Arsenal will not be involved in Monday's Europa League draw despite making it into the knockout stages as Group A winners.
The Gunners secured top spot in their group with last week's 1-0 victory over FC Zurich in their final fixture, ensuring they finished above second-place PSV Eindhoven after failing to beat them the previous week. However, although the Dutch outfit are involved in the draw, as well as Manchester United, Mikel Arteta's side are not.
Mirror Football tells you everything you need to know about the Europa League draw and why Arsenal aren't involved in it, despite making it through to the next round.
Why aren't Arsenal in the Europa League draw?
Despite booking their place in the knockout stages as Group A winners, Arsenal will not be involved in the Europa League draw as it only involves the eight teams who finished as runners-up in the group stage.
Those eight teams will also be drawn alongside the eight third-placed teams from the Champions League group stage, taking the total number of participants in the draw to 16.
These 16 teams will be competing in the knockout round play-offs, which determine the eight sides who will join the eight group stage winners in the last 16 draw.
Who would you like Arsenal to draw in the last 16? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
What are the Europa League knockout round play-offs?
The knockout round play-offs were introduced last season to determine the final eight teams for the Europa League last 16.
The eight teams who finished third in their respective Champions League groups will face one of the eight teams who finished as runners-up in the Europa League group stage, as another way of increasing the competitiveness of the Europa League.
The teams who lose will be knocked out of European competition entirely.
When do Arsenal come into the draw?
Having already advanced straight to the last 16, Arsenal will not find out their opponents until after the knockout round play-offs have reached their conclusion next year.
The knockout round play-offs are due to take place in February 2023, of which Arsenal will face one of the eight teams who make it through this stage and into the last 16.
The draw for the last 16 will take place at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, on Friday, February 24, 2023.
