Europa League draw: Arsenal to play Sporting CP, Qarabag and FC Vorskla Poltava in Group E

Arsenal are looking to better their semi-final appearance from last season but face long-distance trips to Azerbaijan and Ukraine

Arsenal will play against Sporting CP, Azerbaijan side FK Qarabag and Ukriane's FC Vorskla Poltava in the group stage of the Europa League.

Unai Emery won the Europa League in three consecutive seasons at Sevilla and will try and build on the Arsenal's semi-final defeat against Atletico Madrid in last year's competition.

Their toughest opponents, Sporting CP, lost several high profile players for little compensation in the summer after a trophy-less season prompted a group of fans to attack several players and coaches at the training group. Rui Patricio moved to Wolves for free, Gelson Martins left for Atletico Madrid for nothing and William Carvalho completed a £18m move to Real Betis.

Qarabag began their qualifying campaign in July but were in Chelsea's group in last year's Champions League where they secured two shock draws against Atletico.

The Gunners were also handed an arduous draw against FC Vorskla Poltava, who play in east Ukraine.

Unai Emery will target his fourth Europa League win as a manger with Arsenal (Getty)

It means that in total, Arsenal will face just under 8,000 miles of flights in the Europa League group stage this season just to play their three away games, maximising the impact of the Thursday-Sunday schedule that has such a drastic impact on teams playing in the European second-tier competition.

Matches begin 20 September and conclude 13 December.