Arsenal Face Italy's Udinese in Play-Offs

Arsenal must overcome Serie A opposition in the shape of Udinese if Arsene Wenger's team is to make it to the Champions League group stages for the 14th successive season.

The Gunners were pitted against the Italian side in the draw for the Champions league play-offs held at UEFA headquarters in Nyon on Friday.

The draw also featured two previous winners of Europe's top club competition, with Bayern Munich facing Swiss side FC Zurich and former titleholders from Portugal Benfica up against Dutch league runners-up FC Twente.

The first legs will be played on August 16/17 with the second legs on August 23/24.

The ten play-off winners will then join the 22 automatically qualified teams for the group stage draw to be held in Monaco on August 25.

Champions League play-off draw

Wisla Krakow (POL) v Apoel Nicosia (CYP)

Maccabi Haifa (ISR) v Genk (BEL)

Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) v Malmo (SWE)

FC Copenhagen (DEN) v FC Viktoria Plzen (CZE)

FC BATE Borisov (BLR) v Sturm Graz (AUT)

OB Odense (DEN) v Villarreal (ESP)

FC Twente (NED) v Benfica (POR)

Arsenal (ENG) v Udinese (ITA)