Europa League draw: The Groups of Death Arsenal, Tottenham, and Leicester could get, including AC Milan, Rangers, Roma, and Napoli

Tottenham are into the Europa League group stages and can now go all-out to win – just like manager Jose Mourinho wanted.

But there is every chance they might get a ‘Group of Death’ to throw them off course.

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Harry Kane scored a hat-trick in the Europa League for Tottenham

The draw will take place today and will begin at 12pm UK time, at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.

There will be seedings and country protection, meaning Premier League clubs will not be drawn together in the same group.

But there are potentially some tough clashes for Spurs, Arsenal and Leicester, there is no doubt about that.

So, will the footballing gods look kindly on English sides this season or will they dish out groups that will leave fans fearing for their sides’ future in the Europa League?

talkSPORT.com have taken a look at the possible worst case scenarios for each English club…

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Arsenal

According to UEFA’s co-efficient system, the Gunners are actually the highest ranked team in the competition, yes you did read that right.

It turns out being in the Europa League for three seasons and reaching the final and the semi-finals is better for you than competing in the Champions League.

As such, Mikel Arteta’s men are sitting pretty in Pot one, or are they?

In the second pot, we’d suggest the possible ties are tricky rather than worrying – those come later. But drawing Dinamo Zagreb will not be fun and games.

The Croatian side have former academy star Robbie Burton in their ranks and the Welshman would surely relish denting his former side’s hopes.

In Pot three the fun really begins, here a number of bigger names lurk, ready to do damage, like AC Milan, Feyenoord, Hoffenheim, and Scottish giants Rangers.

Meanwhile, in the fourth Pot, French sides Lille and Nice offer a real challenge and the latter are managed by none other than Patrick Vieira – bring it on, we say!

Arsenal’s worst case scenario

1. Arsenal


2. Dinamo Zagreb


3. AC Milan


4. Nice

Tottenham

Just behind Arsenal but still the second ranked team in the competition are Spurs.

They cruised into the group stages after walloping Maccabi Haifa 7-2 in London – a Harry Kane hat-trick is what you get when you chuck around insults.

Like Arsenal, being in Pot one, saves them from some hard matches but no doubt feisty encounters await in the coming months.

In Pot two, Spurs might want to avoid Real Sociedad in the draw. They might have lost Real Madrid wonderkid Martin Odegaard but they’ve replaced him with Man City legend David Silva and have retained the likes of Alexander Isak and Mikel Oyarzarbal, while plenty of ex-Premier League stars lie in wait, including Mikel Merino, Nacho Monreal, and Adnan Januzaj.

In the third pot, the possibility of ‘the Vincent Janssen derby’ against AZ Alkmaar might throw up some issues with their talented starlets Myron Boadu, Owen Wijndal, and Teun Koopmeiners. The reality is AC Milan will be considered the harder opponent after they squeaked through their play-off tie on penalties.

In Pot four, it’s Lille who Spurs should fear. They’re going to be contenders in France again this year and can call upon the likes of Zeki Celik, once linked to a N17 switch, Jonathan Bamba, Jonathan David, Mike Maignan, and Renato Sanches, amongst others.

Tottenham’s worst case scenario

1. Tottenham


2. Real Sociedad


3. AC Milan


4. Lille

Leicester City

Down in Pot two, it’s the Foxes, who have started so well in the Premier League this season.

Brendan Rodgers’ men have the potential to get a doozie of a fixture in Pot one. Roma and Napoli are the standouts but most sides will, realistically give them a run for their money.

In the third pot, it’s AC Milan who are, again, the feared team but Rangers are perhaps the most exciting draw given Rodgers’ connections with Celtic – it could be a fiery clash.

And in Pot Four, we’d imagine, it’s Lille again who will provoke the most concern.

Leicester’s worst case scenario

1. Napoli


2. Leicester


3. Rangers


4. Lille

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