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Tough draw for Arsenal

Author: Rose Young
Date: 08/08/2009

Arsenal and Celtic have been paired against each other in an all-British Champions League play-off encounter.

The Gunners were seeded in the draw and could have been drawn against Fiorentina, Atletico Madrid or the Bhoys.

But following the draw at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, the Premier League and Scottish Premier League heavyweights were pitted against each other in a high-profile encounter with a place in the lucrative group stages of the competition up for grabs.

The first leg will be played at the Emirates Stadium on August 18-19 with the return at Parkhead one week later.

Meanwhile, Everton will take on Sigma Olomouc of the Czech Republic in the Europa League play-offs.

Can Everton win the first ever staging of the Europa League? - Latest Football Betting

Fulham's reward for overcoming Lithuanian side FK Vetra in the last round is a meeting with Amkar Perm of Russia, while Aston Villa must travel to Austria to face Rapid Vienna.

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic will miss the start of the Premier League season with a calf problem.

The Serbia international has suffered an injury-plagued pre-season and is still two weeks away from full-fitness, according to United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

Vidic will miss Sunday's Community Shield encounter against Chelsea and the season-opener at home to Birmingham City on August 16.

Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of defender Sebastien Bassong from Newcastle United.

The 23-year-old centre-half has joined the north London club on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee.

Spurs are believed to have paid in the region of £8millon for a player who spent just one season with the Magpies.

Hull City are close to adding a third new player to their squad in quick succession after agreeing a fee with Newcastle United for defender Habib Beye.

The Tigers snapped up midfielder Seyi Olofinjana from Stoke City and USA international striker Jozy Altidore on loan from Villarreal on Thursday before chairman Paul Duffen revealed that a deal for Beye was also close.

In cricket, Andrew Flintoff has been ruled out of the fourth Ashes Test against Australia at Headingley due to a knee injury.

Flintoff's participation had been in doubt after he struggled to complete the drawn third Test at Edgbaston last week.

The all-rounder, who will retire from Test cricket at the end of the series, took part in a practice session on Thursday but was unable to bowl at full pace.

The England management team therefore decided Flintoff was not able to take a full part in a match which could decide the outcome of the series.

Steve Harmison was named as Flintoff's replacement in the Headingley line-up with Australia installed as the online betting favourites.

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