Arsenal Paired With Swedish Minnows Ostersund In Europa League Last-32 Draw

Arsenal set to take-on Ostersund in freezing temperatures in February…

Arsenal have been drawn against Swedish side Ostersund in the last-32 round of the Europa League as we look to make it all the way to the final in Lyon.

The draw for the knockout stages took place at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon on Monday, and we were the penultimate team out of the hat.

Ostersunds, who’re managed by Graham Potter, the only English manager currently coaching a team in Europe’s top two competitions, are one of the remaining minnows in the competition.

The Allsvenskan side’s home ground holds just over 9,000 fans, and the average weather forecast in February in Ostersund is -9 degrees Celsius.

Arsene Wenger’s tenure at Arsenal currently predates Ostersund’s whole existence, a statistic you’ll only in see in such competitions.

Many pundits are starting to believe that the Europa League represents our best chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League, especially given our current league form.

Getting into the Premier League’s top four has become rather tough since a ‘top six’ hierarchy was naturally formed. It means two big clubs will always miss out on Europe’s premier club competition unless they win the Europa League.

While the Europa League looks an attractive proposition at this present moment, our predicament may be completely different come February.

source: UEFA.tv