ENGLISH clubs have enjoyed a strong start to the Europa League campaign, with Arsenal, Tottenham and Leicester all topping their group.
In fact, Mikel Arteta’s Gunners won all six of their games – the only team to maintain a 100 per cent record in either European competition this season.
Man Utd have slipped into the Europa League and go into the pot for the last-32 drawCredit: Rex Features
Arsenal join Man Utd, Leicester and Tottenham in the draw for the last-32Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Now, all three will go into the Europa League last-32 stage, where they will be joined by Manchester United.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Co threw away a strong start to their Champions League campaign to finish third in the ‘Group of Death’.
United lost their final group game to RB Leipzig knowing only a point would see them progress to the last-16 of Europe’s elite competition.
Instead, they join Arsenal, Spurs and Leicester in Europe’s second tier at the last-32 stage.
But who could each Premier League side face in Monday’s draw?
We take a look after a quick run through of the rules…
DRAW RULES
1. Europa League group winners and the top four third-placed Champions League teams are seeded – with the remaining 16 teams unseeded.
2. Teams cannot be drawn with clubs from their own nation.
3. Seeded teams will crucially have home advantage in the second leg.
MAN UTD
AS one of the four best Champions League third-placed finishers, United are fortunate to be seeded for the draw.
That means they avoid the likes of AC Milan, Napoli, Roma, Ajax and Villarreal.
⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford
However, there are still some tricky-looking ties, including Lille, Benfica and Real Sociedad potentially on the cards.
United could face a gruelling 6,500-mile round-trip journey to Israel, too, should they draw Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
EUROPA LEAGUE SEEDINGS
SEEDED
AC Milan
Ajax
Arsenal
Bayer Leverkusen
Club Brugge
Dinamo Zagreb
Hoffenheim
Leicester
Man Utd
Napoli
PSV Eindhoven
Shakhtar Donetsk
Rangers
Roma
Tottenham
Villarreal
UNSEEDED
Benfica
Braga
Dynamo Kiev
Granada
Krasnodar
Lille
Maccabi Tel-Aviv
Molde
Olympiacos
RB Salzburg
Real Sociedad
Red Star Belgrade
Royal Antwerp
Slavia Prague
Wolfsberger
Young Boys
ARSENAL
AS group winners, picking up the maximum 18 points from their six games, Arsenal are also seeded.
Much like United, they now face an easier opponent in the last-32.
⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news from The Emirates
But they could face some horrifically long journeys, as well as stern tests from the likes of RB Salzburg and Olympiacos.
On top of the slog to Tel-Aviv, Arsenal could be lumbered with a 4,300-mile round-trip to Russian side Krasnodar, who finished third in Chelsea’s Champions League group.
TOTTENHAM
MACCABI TEL-AVIV and Krasnodar are also on the potential agenda for Spurs.
Tottenham, like all English clubs, are seeded so will face a slightly simpler route to the last-16.
But there are still some potential banana skins in the draw and the potential long journeys in an already packed schedule could see Jose Mourinho frustrated.
LEICESTER
LEICESTER are the fourth and final Premier League side in the draw.
Seeded, the Foxes will face similar sides to their compatriots.
The likes of Salzburg, Benfica, Lille and Real Sociedad await – as well as the long trips to Maccabi Tel-Aviv and Krasnodar.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk