Champions League: Daunting draw for Arsenal

Arsenal face a daunting task after being drawn alongside last season's runners-up Borussia Dortmund, Rafael Benitez's Napoli and Marseille in the Champions League group stages.

Group of Death? Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. PIC/Getty Images

The Gunners, who qualified after completing a comprehensive play-off win over Fenerbahce this week, were placed in the tough-looking Group F at UEFA's draw here yesterday.

Celtic, who famously beat Barcelona last season, will face the Catalan giants again along with two other former winners in Group H in AC Milan and Ajax.

Manchester City will again play reigning champions Bayern Munich, who they faced two years ago, CSKA Moscow and Viktoria Plzen in Group D.

Chelsea face two of the sides they conquered en route to last year's Europa League success in Basle and Steaua Bucharest, as well as Schalke, in Group E.

David Moyes' Champions League bow with Manchester United will come against Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayer Leverkusen and Real Sociedad in Group A.u00a0

Group A
>> Manchester United
>> Shakhtar Donetsk
>> Bayer Leverkusen
>> Real Sociedad

Group B
>> Real Madrid
>> Juventus
>> Galatasaray
>> FC Copenhagen

Group C
>> Benfica
>> Paris St Germain
>> Olympiacos
>> Anderlecht

Group D
>> Bayern Munich
>> CSKA Moscow
>> Manchester City
>> Viktoria Plzen

Group E
>> Chelsea
>> Schalke
>> Basle
>> Steaua Bucharest

Group F
>> Arsenal
>> Marseille
>> Borussia Dortmund
>> Napoli

Group G
>> Porto
>> Atletico Madrid
>> Zenit St Petersburg
>> Austria Vienna

Group H
>> Barcelona
>> AC Milan
>> Ajax
>>Celticu00a0