Arsenal drawn against Turkish side Fenerbahce in Champions League play-off
Gunners are looking to reach their 15th consecutive appearance in the group stages while Celtic will face Shakhter Karagandy
![What has happened to the plan Wenger founded on sanity?](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2013/07/24/22/pg-70-lawton-wenger-getty.jpg)
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
![Head shot of Andrew Feinberg](https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/support-us/andrew-feinberg.png)
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
Arsenal have been drawn against Fenerbahce in the Champions League play-off draw.
The Gunners are looking to reach the Champions League group stages for the 15th consecutive time under manager Arsene Wenger, having pipped rivals Tottenham to fourth-place on the final day of last season.
Fenerbahce were one of two Turkish teams - along with Besiktas - to be banned from European competition for match-fixing, but thy were reinstated pending an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The hearing is expected to take place on August 28, meaning they will have likely played the second-leg against Arsenal before they find out their fate, with the second round of matches taking place on the 27/28 August with the first leg a week earlier.
Wenger will be hoping for an easy route to the group stages in an effort to convince Liverpool striker Luis Suarez that Arsenal will be competitive in the Champions League this season. With owner John W Henry's comments that they will not sell the Uruguayan under any circumstances, it may be down to Suarez to fight the club to try and force a move away should he desire to.
Celtic have been drawn against Shakhter Karagandy of Kazakhstan, meaning that both British teams in the play-offs will actually face away trips to Asia, despite the standing of the Champions League as the premier European competition.
Karagandy were disqualified from the Kazakstan Premier League for their part in a fixed match, with coaches and management involved banned from the sport for 60 months.
The decision was review and instead they were deducted nine points from their league total, with opponents FC Vostok expelled from the competition.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments