Champions League draw: What are the best and worst worst case scenarios for Arsenal?

Who will Arsene Wenger be hoping to see come out of the hat?

The draw for the group stage of the Champions League is taking place on Thursday and Arsenal will be among those involving after defeating Besiktas in the qualifier.

Arsenal will not be able to face a side from the same country - which rules out meetings with Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City. But that still leaves plenty of sides to avoid.

LIVE: Champions League draw

They are guaranteed to face one of Schalke, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, PSG, Shakhtar Donetsk, Basel or Zenit St Petersburg from Pot 2.

The sides to avoid from Pot 2 are 2012 finalists and German giants Borussia Dortmund, Italian champion Juventus and mega-rich French champions PSG.

Pot 3 - in which Liverpool are placed - includes Ajax, Sporting Lisbon and Galatasaray.

Gareth Bale lifts the Champions League trophy aloft (Getty Images)

Even Pot 4 comprises some incredible teams. Monaco might have lost James Rodriguez but the big-spending side retain some incredible talents - not least Radamel Falcao. Ashley Cole's Roma side are also among the fourth seeds.

Possible scenarios Arsenal will want to avoid...

Borussia Dortmund, Ajax and Roma

Juventus, Sporting Lisbon and Monaco

PSG, Galatasaray and Roma

Worst possible group scenario for Arsenal

Arsenal, Paris St-Germain, Ajax, Roma

It might turn out better than that though for Arsenal should they be involved in the draw. These are a couple of the more favourable draws...

Basel, CSKA Moscow and Maribor

Zenit St Petersburg, Olympiakos and BATE Borisov

Best possible group scenario for Arsenal

Arsenal, Basel, Sporting, Maribor

You will be able to follow all the latest news with our live blog of the draw tomorrow.

The prize the teams are chasing

SEEDS...

Pot 1: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Benfica, Atletico Madrid, Arsenal, Porto

Pot 2: Schalke 04, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Shakhtar Donetsk, Basel, Zenit Saint Petersburg, Manchester City

Pot 3: Bayer Leverkusen, Olympiacos, CSKA Moscow, Ajax, Liverpool, Sporting CP, Galatasaray, Athletic Bilbao

Pot 4: Anderlecht, Roma, APOEL, BATE Borisov, Ludogorets Razgrad, Maribor, Monaco, Malmo FF