By James Dall Last updated: 1st August 2008
McClaren: Gunners test
FC Twente manager Steve McClaren is eagerly anticipating facing Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.
Friday's draw placed McClaren's Eredivisie side against The Gunners with a place in the lucrative group stages at stake.
The former England and Middlesbrough boss is expecting a 'very tough' test when he takes on Arsene Wenger's Arsenal, but is excited by the challenge.
He told Sky Sports News: "I think of all the teams we could have had, that is the toughest - or one of the toughest.
"Obviously we looked at Arsenal, Liverpool, Juventus, Schalke and we got one of the most difficult.
"In one respect it's a tough draw for us; on the other it's now an opponent we know very well, not just myself, everyone in Holland knows the Premier League well so Arsenal will be no strangers to us.
"This is a reward for a great achievement last season in reaching this stage, to get one of the big teams.
"It will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that doesn't come along that often. I'm sure the fans will be delighted."
He added: "I expected one of the English teams. I think fate deals you certain cards and it has dealt us this draw.
"On one hand it's very, very tough for us but on the other it is very exciting."
Champions League 2008/09 Win Outright: Arsenal 12/1| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 10th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Aston Villa vs West Brom |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man City |
| 17:30 | Stoke vs Liverpool |
| Sunday 11th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Wigan vs Tottenham |
| 16:00 | Man Utd vs Chelsea |
| Wednesday 14th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Man Utd vs Wigan |
| Saturday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Newcastle |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Wigan |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | West Brom vs Middlesbrough |
| 17:30 | Hull vs Arsenal |
| Sunday 18th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | West Ham vs Fulham |
| 16:00 | Tottenham vs Portsmouth |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 30th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 0 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Monday 29th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 1 - 0 Middlesbrough | |
| Sunday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 2 - 2 Man City | |
| Fulham 2 - 2 Chelsea | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Everton 3 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Arsenal 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| West Brom 2 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Bolton 0 - 1 Wigan | |
| Newcastle 1 - 5 Liverpool | |
| Friday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 2 Arsenal | |
| Liverpool 3 - 0 Bolton | |
| Wigan 2 - 1 Newcastle | |
| Middlesbrough 0 - 1 Everton | |
| Man City 5 - 1 Hull | |
| Sunderland 0 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Portsmouth 1 - 4 West Ham | |
| Tottenham 0 - 0 Fulham | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 West Brom | |
| Stoke 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
Chris Burton offers up Fantasy Football transfer advice ahead of the resumption of Premier League action.
Ed Chamberlin sees United and Chelsea cancelling each other out on Sunday, while racing feels the freeze.
Paul Merson expects strugglers West Brom and Spurs to lose to Aston Villa and Wigan this weekend.
Paul Ince has told Sky Sports News he is disappointed he did not receive the public backing of Blackburn.
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate insists Stewart Downing should be aiming higher than Tottenham.
Lee Bowyer is to join Birmingham City on loan, while Mido is angry at being lined up for a move to Newcastle without his knowledge.
Ashley Young is 'delighted' to be playing for Aston Villa after being linked with Real Madrid.
Mark Hughes has received 'tentative enquiries' regarding members of his Manchester City squad.