Arsenal to face Besiktas in Champions League playoff round

Arsenal will have to overcome Turkish side Besiktas over two legs in order to progress into the group phase of the Champions League.

Arsene Wenger's side will travel to Istanbul on August 19/20 before welcoming Besiktas, who recently acquired the signature of former Chelsea striker Demba Ba, to the Emirates a week later for the playoff round second leg.

Arsenal, who finished fourth in the Premier League last season, could have faced Athletic Bilbao, Lille, Kobenhavn or Standard Liege in today's draw in Nyon, Switzerland.

Meanwhile, Scottish champions Celtic, who were reinstated into the competition this morning, will face Slovenian side Maribor in the playoffs.

Champions League playoff draw in full:

League Route

Besiktas vs. Arsenal Standard Liege vs. Zenit St Petersburg FC Copenhagen vs. Bayer Leverkusen Lille vs. Porto Napoli vs. Athletic Bilbao

Champions Route

Maribor vs. Celtic Salzburg vs. Malmo Aalborg vs. APOEL Nicosia Steaua Bucharest vs. Ludogorets Slovan Bratislava vs. BATE Borisov