Europa League draw: Arsenal face Rangers’ slayers Slavia Prague and Man United get Euro rookies Granada in the quarter-finals, with an ALL-ENGLISH FINAL on the cards if they both get to Gdansk
- Manchester United paired with Spanish club Granada in the quarter-finals
- Arsenal have drawn Slavia Prague in the last eight with first leg at home
- Ajax vs Roma and Dinamo Zagreb vs Villarreal are the other two matches
- United and Arsenal won’t face each other in the semi-finals but could in final
Manchester United will face European debutants Granada for a place in the semi-finals of the Europa League, while Arsenal will take on Slavia Prague.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men have been rewarded for their hard-fought last-16 success against AC Milan with a tie against the Spanish newcomers, who squeezed past the Norwegian’s former club Molde in the previous round.
They had previously come through a challenging tie with Serie A side Napoli beforehand.
Arsenal, who overcame Olympiacos to reach the last eight, were paired with Slavia Prague
The draw for the remainder of this season’s Europa League was made in Nyon on Friday
Granada boast a couple of players familiar with playing the Red Devils, with former Tottenham striker Roberto Soldado and Chelsea loanee Kenedy among the key members of Diego Martinez’s squad.
Arsenal meanwhile, take on Slavia Prague – who have already knocked out two British sides in this year’s competition.
The Czech outfit beat Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City in the round of 32, before seeing of Steven Gerrard’s Rangers on Thursday night, in match marred by serious allegations of racism against defender Ondrej Kudela.
Arsenal made it through after holding out at home to Olympiacos, sealing their place in the last eight thanks to a 3-2 aggregate win, despite losing 1-0 at home on Thursday night.
Elsewhere, Tottenham’s conquerors Dinamo Zagreb have been rewarded for their herculean effort with a tie against Spanish side Villarreal.
Ajax will face Roma over two legs, both having been Champions League finalists in the last three years.
In the semi-final draw, the two English sides have been kept apart, with United set to face either Ajax or Roma.
Arsenal could be set for a reunion with former boss Unai Emery should they meet Villarreal in the last four.
First leg ties are set to be played on Thursday April 8. The second legs will be on Thursday April 13.
The former Tottenham forward Roberto Soldado plays for Spanish club Granada
Slavia Prague made the last eight following a fiery second leg meeting with Rangers
Dinamo Zagreb will face Villarreal next after their astonishing last 16 victory over Tottenham
SCROLL DOWN TO RE-LIVE HOW THE DRAW UNFOLDED
Adam ShergoldHost commentator
12:30
Slavia Prague profile
Arsenal’s opponent have become quite familiar to British audiences in the last two rounds of the Europa League.
Slavia Prague dumped Leicester out at the last 32 stage, winning 2-0 at the King Power Stadium following a goalless draw in the first leg at home.
They then eliminated Rangers, winning 2-0 in a fiery match at Ibrox last night after a 1-1 first leg draw in the Czech capital.
Slavia are well on course to win a third successive league title in their homeland. They are 14 points clear of local rivals Sparta at the moment.
12:25
Who are Granada?
No, United have not been drawn against their ITV region before you ask…
The Spanish club are enjoying their first ever season in European competition after finishing seventh in LaLiga last season.
The Andalusia-based club battled through two qualifying rounds before finishing second in their group behind PSV Eindhoven.
Granada then overcame Napoli in the last 32 and Molde in the last 16, winning both ties 3-2 on aggregate, to reach this stage.
Familiar names in their squad is that of the former Tottenham striker Roberto Soldado and also the Chelsea loanee Kenedy.
12:17
What’s your reaction to that?
You have to say that both Manchester United and Arsenal will be satisfied with the draw.
The Gunners will have the chance to succeed where Leicester and Rangers failed and eliminate the Czech side Slavia Prague in their quarter-final.
Meanwhile, United take on the European competition novices Granada from Spain.
And if all goes to plan, we could see an all-English final in Gdansk on May 26.
A reminder that the first legs of the quarter-final are scheduled for April 8 and the return legs a week later on April 15.
Now for the semi-final draw…
Granada/Manchester United vs Ajax/Roma
Dinamo Zagreb/Villarreal vs Arsenal/Slavia Prague
So we could yet have an all English final! But let’s not get ahead of ourselves
The last eight draw in full
Granada vs Manchester United
Arsenal vs Slavia Prague
Ajax vs Roma
Dinamo Zagreb vs Villarreal
QF4: Dinamo Zagreb vs Villarreal
QF3: Ajax vs Roma
12:12
QF2: Arsenal vs Slavia Prague
Third British opponent in a row for the Czech side.
First leg at the Emirates Stadium
12:11
QF1: Granada vs Manchester United
More Spanish opponents for Man United after Real Sociedad in the last 32. This time competition debutants Granada
Second leg at Old Trafford
Time for the draw…
The balls are being swirled. Stand by for the quarter-final draw.
We have a special guest… Gael Clichy
A smattering of applause in the empty draw auditorium for the guest of honour for the draw – ex-Arsenal and Manchester City defender Gael Clichy.
He plays for the Swiss club Servette, based in Geneva just up the road from UEFA HQ in Nyon.
Here’s Marchetti…
Ah not too much preamble. Here is UEFA draw guru Giorgio Marchetti to explain how it’s all going to work and then hopefully we’ll get underway.
Marchetti says the use of neutral venues to stage certain games because of the Covid pandemic shows the ‘exceptional solidarity’ in European football.
Gotta have a montage
Pedro Pinto’s introduction being followed by a video montage of ‘great goals’ from the round of 16 so bear with us…
A reminder of the eight teams in the draw
Here we go…
The draw ceremony for the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals is just getting underway in Nyon.
Prepare for plenty of chat and video montages before the actual draw though…
Not long to wait now
Five minute warning for the start of the Europa League draw ceremony.
11:56
Milan victory was a step forward for Solskjaer but he needs to win a trophy
Jack Gaughan: There was definitely some merit in what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer preached before this statement victory. Manchester United, to his mind, should be judged by how it is going in the Premier League.
He pointed towards the point swing on this time last season as proof they head in the correct direction.
That is all true, although improvement was a non-negotiable given they finished 33 points behind champions Liverpool.
