• Champions League

Arsenal aim to avoid Rubin Kazan in Champions League

ESPN staff
August 5, 2011
Arsene Wenger had endured a tough summer period at Arsenal © PA Photos
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Arsenal will hope a testing summer does not take another bad turn on Friday morning when the draw is made for the final round of Champions League qualifying.

Arsene Wenger has seen the majority of his off-season schedule taken up by the wavering futures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, who are both yet to confirm where they will play their football next season.

As an offshoot of the duo's dithering, Wenger has reportedly been forced to delay in his own transfer pursuits, with finances for the likes of Valencia winger Juan Mata dictated by whether Fabregas and/or Nasri leave for big money before the end of the summer window.

Wenger's preparations for the 2011-12 campaign have undoubtedly been disturbed by the ongoing sagas, so he would welcome a smooth route - at least on paper - into the lucrative group stage of the Champions League. Progress from the qualifying round would bring in as much as £17.4 million to the Arsenal coffers.

The Gunners are seeded, so they will miss the likes of Bayern Munich, Benfica, Lyon and Villarreal, but there are dangerous potential draws in the shape of Udinese and Rubin Kazan. The Russians, in particular, have been dangerous in recent years, even beating Barcelona at Camp Nou.

Wenger will hope for a more inviting two-legged affair against one of FC Twente, FC Zurich or Odense, as he attempts to guide Arsenal through a potentially turbulent start to the new campaign.

The draw for the final Champions League qualifying round takes place at 11am, with ties to be played on August 16/17 and 23/24.

The Europa League qualifying draw will then follow at 12.30, involving seven British teams including Tottenham, Birmingham, Rangers, Celtic, Fulham, Stoke and Hearts.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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