Despite the Gunners being one of 16 seeded teams, they could still face a tough test against the likes of Atletico Madrid, Galatasaray or Sparta Prague, who all inhabit the unseeded portion of the draw.

Rafael Benitez's men are also seeded along with Rangers, provided the Ibrox men squeeze through their second qualifying round second-leg clash with Kaunas in Lithuania next week.

Wenger admitted that although he has his preferences it is pointless reading too much into the draw at this stage of a competition in which he so dearly wishes to taste success.

Wenger told Arsenal TV: "There are quite a few teams we would like to avoid. That is why it is better not to look at it. We will just take who we get.

"We just have to improve now, to use the two tournaments we play to get physically stronger and better, then we will play who we get."

Among other possible opponents for the British sides are Steve McClaren's Twente Enschede, who qualified for a third qualifying round berth by beating Ajax in last season's Eredivisie play-offs.

McClaren is clearly relishing the beginning of his latest European adventure having famously taken Middlesbrough all the way to a UEFA Cup final defeat by Sevilla in 2006.

McClaren said: "Just as I can learn from Twente, Twente can learn from me. I have a lot of European experience and that is why I am looking forward to the Champions League qualifying round."

Meanwhile there should be a fitting prize in store for Irish champions Drogheda if they reverse a 2-1 first-leg deficit against Dynamo Kiev, with the possibility of a showdown against any one of their big British neighbours.

:: SEEDED TEAMS: Liverpool; Barcelona; Arsenal; Schalke; Juventus; Rangers/Kaunas; Marseille; Steaua Bucharest; Panathinaikos/Dinamo Tbilisi; IFK Gothenburg/Basle; Olympiacos; Fenerbahce/MTK Hungaria; Shakhtar Donetsk; Anderlecht/BATE; Fiorentina; Spartak Moscow.

:: UNSEEDED TEAMS: Atletico Madrid; Sheriff Tiraspol/Sparta Prague; Drogheda/Dynamo Kiev; Levski Sofia; Slavia Prague; Galatasaray; Inter Baku/Partizan Belgrade; Vitoria Guimaraes; Domzale/Dinamo Zagreb; Beitar Jerusalem/Wisla Krakow; Standard Liege; Twente Enschede; Tampere/Artmedia Bratislava; Aalborg/Modrica; Brann/Ventspils; Anorthosis Famagusta/Rapid Vienna.