Arsenal are in the Europa League for the first time in 17 years (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal have been drawn against Belorussian side BATE Borisov, German outfit Koln and Red Star Belgrade in the group stages of the Europa League.

The Gunners are playing in Europe’s secondary competition for the first time in 17 years, when they made it to the final of the old UEFA Cup, losing on penalties to Galatasaray in the final.

Thanks to their usual adventures in the Champions League, Arsenal’s coefficient of 105.192 seeds them in Pot 1 and ranks them as clear favourites for the tournament.

Premier League rivals Everton, meanwhile, have been drawn in a tough section alongside last season’s semi-finalists Lyon as well as Atalanta and Apollon.

Here are the groups in full…

Group A

Villarreal, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Astana, Slavia Prague

Group B

Dynamo Kiev, Young Boys, Partizan Belgrade, Skenderbeu

Group C

Braga, Ludogorets, Hoffenheim, Istanbul Basaksehir

Group D

Milan, Austria Vienna, NK Rijeka, AEK

Group E

Lyon, Everton, Atalanta, Apollon

Group F

FC Copenhagen, Lokomotiv Moscow, Sheriff, Zlin

Group G

Viktoria Plzen, FCSB, Hapoel Beer-Sheva, Lugano

Group H

Arsenal, BATE Borisov, Koln, Red Star Belgrade 

Group I

Salzburg, Marseille, Victoria SC, Konyaspor

Group J

Athletic Bilbao, Hertha, Zorya, Ostersund

Group K

Lazio, Nice, Zulta Waregem, Vittesse

Group L

Zenit, Real Sociedad, Rosenborg, Vardar

WHEN WILL THE MATCHES TAKE PLACE?

Manchester United won the Europa League final against Ajax last season (Picture: Getty)

As per usual, matches will take place on Thursday evenings proceeding Champions League nights and will either kick-off at 6pm BST/GMT or 8.05pm BST/GMT. The first matches will be played in mid September, and the last round of games will take place at the start of December.

Europa League group stage dates

14 September
28 September
19 October
2 November
23 November
7 December

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