After strolling to top spot in Europa League Group E, emerging undefeated from their four-way showdown with Sporting, Qarabag and Vorskla Poltava, Arsenal must now wade through the squelching quagmire of the round of 32.
With the Europa League draw done and dusted, they now know who they will have to beat to advance further into the knockout rounds: BATE Borisov.
Read more: Champions League draw: Last 16 fixtures in full, dates and team guide
Fifth in the Premier League, Unai Emery’s side have Champions League aspirations and winning Europe’s second-tier competition may well be their easiest route to the top table. Here’s everything you need to know about the next team they need to beat.
BATE Borisov profile
Season so far
Second in Europa League Group L, seven points behind group winners Chelsea, BATE Borisov represent fairly stodgy last 32 opponents.
Belorussian champions for the last 13 years in a row, BATE are Europa League stalwarts and embody the slogged early rounds of the competition. Beaten 3-1 at Stamford Bridge and 1-0 when Chelsea visited the Borisov Arena, BATE’s record against Premier League opposition so far this season is far from promising even if a February trip to Belarus is hardly a comfortable proposition.
Season calendar
14 February: Round of 32, first leg
21 February: Round of 32, second leg
7 March: Round of 16, first leg
14 March: Round of 16, second leg
11 April: Quarter-finals, first leg
18 April: Quarter-finals, second leg
2 May: Semi-finals, first leg
9 May: Semi-finals, second leg
29 May: Final
More on the Europa League
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