Arsenal have been grouped with Bayern Munich, Spartak Moscow and Olympique Lyonnais for phase two of the Champions League. On the face of it, it could have been much worse - with two games within Bergkamp Range. Obviously we can write off a trip to Moscow for Our Dennis.

ManU have got the Group of Life, presuming that's the opposite of a Group of Death. Only Valencia, Sturm Graz and Panathinaikos stand between them and the knock-out stage. 'We are not at all complacent,' said Peter Kenyon, clearly betraying his true feelings at the draw.

And it just gets worse for Leeds. First it was AC Milan and Barcelona... now it's only Real Madrid and Lazio. This is actually pretty bad news for Arsenal fans: the two groups are scheduled for the same nights - and ITV aren't likely to screen Spartak-Arsenal over Leeds-Real, for example. Another battle with Carlton could be looming.

'We will do our best but it won't be easy,' admitted David Dein. 'We will try hard. Our aim is to win the Champions League.' The bookies now have us at 6/1 to do that, level with AC Milan but behind favourites ManUtd (eh?), Real Madrid and Lazio.

Arsenal's fixtures:

• 22 Nov: Spartak Moscow away
• 5 Dec: Bayern Munich at home
• 13 Feb: Lyon away
• 21 Feb: Lyon at home
• 6 Mar: Spartak Moscow at home
• 14 Mar: Bayern Munich away