UEFA Champions League Play-Off Draw: Arsenal and Bayern Munich Handed Tough Draws

Arsenal have been handed the toughest after being drawn to play Udinese. The Italian's, the surprise package of Serie A last season, will provide a giant obstacle for Arsene Wenger's men. Udinese may have lost their star player, Alexis Sanchez, to Barcelona this summer but Arsene Wenger will be fully aware of the size of the task.

Arsenal will be without Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie for the first leg at the Emirates after the two were suspended for ill-discipline during Arsenal's last 16 defeat against Barcelona last season. Since winning the Premier League title in 1997, Arsene Wenger has had a perfect record of reaching the Champions' League group stages, but after finishing fourth last season, Wenger knew that this year would be problematic.

Sandwiched in between Arsenal's home and away legs in the Champions League play-offs, Arsenal play Premier League games with Liverpool and Manchester United.

Elsewhere, Bayern Munich face a tricky tie against FC Zurich and Lyon will have to use all their Champions League experience to get past Rubin Kazan of Russia.

Full draw for the UEFA Champions League play-offs:

Wisla Krakow v Apoel Nicosia

Maccabi Haifa v Genk

Dinamo Zagreb v Malmo FF

FC Copenhagen v Plzen

BATE v SK Sturm Graz

Odense BK v Villarreal

FC Twente v Benfica

Arsenalv Udinese

Bayern Munich v FC Zurich

Lyon v Rubin Kazan

Ties to be played on August 16/17th and August 23/24th.