UEFA Europa League last 32 draw: Arsenal pitted against Ostersunds as Celtic face Zenit

So, Arsenal will no doubt fancy themselves against Ostersunds, while Atletico Madrid have also been handed a favourable tie against Copenhagen as they bid to win their third Europa League trophy.

Borussia Dortmund will certainly not have it all their own way against Atalanta, while Napoli vs RB Leipzig promises to be the tie of the round as Sarri and Hassenhuttl go head-to-head.

Celtic are in for a tough time against free-scoring Zenit, while Gennaro Gattuso's AC Milan are primed for a long trip to Ludogorets, along with Sporting, who will meet Astana.

That's all from us today. Have a good afternoon.

A warning for Celtic, who shipped a few goals in the Champions League:

Zenit St Petersburg scored 17 goals in the Europa League group stages, more than any other side.

Potter, who will no doubt be linked with a managerial job on British shores in the coming months, is already enjoying esteemed company.

Many will fancy Borussia Dortmund, who sacked Peter Bosz on the weekend, to secure victory over Atalanta, but BVB will certainly have their work cut out as they strive to reach the last 16.

Gian Piero Gasperini's side are no pushovers and boast a number of talented including Cristante and Gomez, who helped La Dea run riot over Everton in the group stage.

Plenty of intriguing clashes await. Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta, Napoli vs RB Leipzig and Lyon vs Villarreal immediately stand out.

Which tie are you looking forward to the most?

Here is a snippet of what the Gunners will come up against in February and March:

So Arsenal avoided the Napoli and Borussia Dortmund to land themselves a tie against minnows Ostersunds, who have certainly been punching above their weight so far.

Graham Potter's men knocked out Galatasary in the qualifying rounds of the competition and managed to get the better of Bundesliga outfit Hertha Berlin to qualify for the last 32, but they certainly haven't had to face a team with the quality of Arsenal, who may see fit to field some of their more senior stars after giving the youngsters and fringe players some game-time during the group stages.

How about this for a tit-bit; Ostersunds were formed on October 31st 1996, just over a month after Arsene Wenger took charge of Arsenal in September of that year.

Key dates:

The first legs of these round of 16 matches will be played on 15 February, while the return legs will take place on 22 February.

That's your lot. All 32 teams have been summoned. Below is the draw in full:

Wenger's men would have taken that prior to the draw.

Marseille vs Braga

Östersunds v Arsenal

The best case scenario for the Gunners? Graham Potter's men are capable of surprises...

Astana vs Sporting

Sporting, who were perhaps unlucky to miss out on the last 16 of the Champions League, face a tough trip to Azerbaijan.

Ludogorets vs Milan

How will Gattuso's boys fair in Bulgaria?

Steaua Bucharest vs Lazio

Serie A title contenders face a tough trip to Romania.

Real Sociedad vs FC Salzburg

The much-improved Sociedad will fancy their chances.

Lyon vs Villarreal

Another corker! Not quite Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Madrid, but their compatriots will serve up a good show.

Red Star Belgrade vs CSKA Moscow

Napoli v RB Leipzig

That promises to be some tie. Sarri's Napoli up against one of the best Germany has to offer.

Celtic vs Zenit St Petersburg

Hope Celtic are well. A tough trip and opponent, but far from impossible.

AEK Athens vs Dynamo Kiev

Cool, nice one lads.

Spartak Moscow vs Athletic Club

An intriguing match-up between the Champions League drop-outs and Athletic, who have endured a poor start to the season.

FC Copenhagen vs Atletico Madrid

A favourable tie for Diego Simeone's men, though the Danes will be cursing their luck, no doubt.

Nice v Lokomotiv Moscow

Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta

An enticing match-up gets things underway.

UEFA General Secretary Girogio Marchetti has been joined by Barcelona legend Eric Abidal on stage in Nyon, as the draw edges ever closer.

We're waiting for UEFA to get their act together and start the draw, which should already be in full swing.

While we wait, why not have a quick look at our coverage of the Champions League draw, which threw up some mouth-watering ties.

Despite failing to qualify for the knock-out rounds of the Champions League RB Leipzig are delighted to be involved in the Europa League for the first time in their brief history. Who will they face in the last 32? We will find out in a matter of moments.

Despite seeing some much-fancied teams enter the knockout rounds of the Europa League from the Champions League, Arsenal are still one of the favourites to lift the coveted trophy at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais in May.

Here are the bookmakers' favourites to win the Europa League:

Below are the permutations and probabilities for today's draw, all of which seem fairly even.

According to this graph, Arsenal are most likely to Real Sociedad and Spartak Moscow, who dropped out of Manchester United's group in the Champions League.

The worst case scenario for Arsenal today? Napoli.

Feyenoord's late winner in Napoli's final Champions League group game not only put to bed any hopes they had of beating Shakhtar to qualification for the last 16, but also ensured the Serie A giants dropped into the group of unseeded clubs for the Europa League.

And there is little doubt the club managed by Maurizio Sarri is the outstanding threat to the Gunners. They had long been leaders of the Italian top flight until they were beaten by champions Juventus last week and in Europe they ran Manchester City close twice in two thrilling group games.

Dries Mertens meanwhile is arguably one of the most outstanding midfielders in world football and has scored 13 goals in all competitions this term - five more than the next Arsenal player. Both sides were paired in the group stage in 2013-14, with each side recording 2-0 wins on their respective home grounds.

The best case scenario for Arsenal today? Ostersund.

Ranked 150th in Uefa's coefficient rankings and embarking on the first European campaign in their history, it should in theory come no easier for Arsenal than minnows Ostersund from the Swedish top flight.

Only founded in 1996, their story is a real rags to riches fairytale. In 2016 then played in the top division in Sweden, Allsvenskan, for the first time and finished eighth but it was their victory in the Svenska Cupen which sent them into Europe. This year they have improved on that and finish 2017 fifth in the league.

The team managed by Englishman Graham Potter - a former England Under-21 international - has already played 12 games in the competition but have already been too good for Hertha Berlin and held Athletic Bilbao at home, to ensure they progressed to the last 32 with a game to spare.

How does the draw work?

The 12 group winners along with the four best performing sides who finish third in their Champions League and thus drop into the competition make up the seeded side. They will drawn against those sides who finished second during the group phase and the four remaining teams from Europe's premier club competition.

For the last 32 draw, no side from the same national association can be drawn against each other, while sides who played each other in their Europa League group are also kept apart. Arsenal therefore are prohibited from facing Red Star Belgrade in the knock-out phase.

And here are the unseeded teams. Borussia Dortmund, Napoli and in-form Ligue 1 outfit Lyon very much the pick of this bunch.

Below are the seeded teams for the Europa League draw. Some huge names in the fold!

We are just half an hour away from the start of the Europa League draw in UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, where the Champions League draw has just finished.

English teams endured mixed fortunes in the draw for the last 16 of Europe's premier club competition: Manchester United are pitted against Sevilla, Manchester City will face Basel, while Liverpool will take Porto to task.

All three have a strong chance of making the last eight, but Chelsea and Tottenham face tougher propositions; the Blues face Barcelona, with Pochettino's side pitted against Juventus.

Here is the draw in full:

Good morning and welcome to IB Times UK's coverage of the draw to decide who plays who in the last 32 of the Europa League.

Arsenal are the only English representative left in Europe's secondary club competition after Everton's campaign quickly became a nightmare. Arsene Wenger's understrength did not have to overly exert themselves to win their group, but the Gunners boss may have to field some of his big stars, with some of Europe's elite lying in wait.

Atletico Madrid, Napoli and RB Leipzig have all dropped down from the Champions League and will all fancy themselves against those who lie in wait, while Celtic also managed to squeeze into the Europa League.

The draw is due to start at midday in Nyon, straight after the Champions League last 16 draw.