By Victor Kanayo
One day after the UEFA Champions League group stage was set, the Europa League took centre stage as 32 teams learned their fate.
Arsenal will face PSV Eindhoven in Group A of the Europa League, while Manchester United were handed a generous-looking round-robin fixture list on paper.
Bodø/Glimt and Zürich complete group A.
PSV, who are managed by former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, lost to Rangers in the Champions League play-off.
Bodo/Glimt and FC Zurich are champions of Norway and Switzerland respectively.
All three of Arsenal’s group-stage rivals dropped out of the Champions League qualifying phase.
PSV were beaten in the Champions League playoffs by Rangers and Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side will take on Mikel Arteta’s in-form team in arguably the most eye-catching matchup of the round.
Bodo/Glimt and Zurich complete Arsenal’s agenda for what will be a condensed group schedule due to the mid-season World Cup in Qatar.
Manchester United have some long trips to make to Sheriff Tiraspol and Omonia Nicosia but those two, along with a Real Sociedad they vanquished in the 2020/21 quarter-finals, will not be expected to present too many problems, even at this transitional stage of Erik ten Hag’s Old Trafford reign.
The Red Devils, who won the tournament in 2017, played Real Sociedad in the group stage of the Champions League in 2013 and in the last 32 of the Europa League in 2021, with United winning 4-0 on aggregate.
Elsewhere, Jose Mourinho’s Europa Conference League winners Roma will take on Ludogorets, HJK Helsinki and Copa del Rey holders Real Betis in Group D.
Their city rivals Lazio are in Group F with Feyenoord, Midtjylland and Sturm Graz.
In the Europa Conference League, West Ham will face Belgians Anderlecht in Group B while Hearts are in Group A.
The Scottish side have been drawn with Italians Fiorentina, Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir and FK RFS of Latvia.
Completing West Ham’s group are FCSB of Romania and Danes Silkeborg IF.
Irish club Shamrock Rovers are in Group F with Gent of Belgium, Molde from Norway and Swedish side Djurgardens.
