Champs League: McClaren the Clown reaction

Arsene Wenger must be rubbing his hands, sighing with relief that his young Guns have avoided Athletico Madrid, Galatasaray or Dynamo Kiev.

Well, it couldn't have been more favourable, could it? A short trip to Holland, facing the might of FC Twente run by that master tactician, Steve McClaren.

We've never faced Twente before, and their fourth-placed finish in the Dutch league suggests they should be a simple hurdle to overcome. As if we needed any more of an advantage, their tiny Grolsch Veste stadium is being expanded, forcing them to play elsewhere until September.

McClaren reacted to the draw by talking as if the game would be nothing more than a day out or his new side: "I expected one of the English teams - of all the teams wcould have got, Arsenal are one of the toughest.

"We know the opponents very well and after what they did last season, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for some of my players.

"Twente has made great progress over recent years and I'm very pleased with what I've seen of them so far."

Looking at their squad, there's only one recognisable player - Australian international Luke Wilkshire , who played under McClaren at Middlesbrough before moving to Bristol City.

Dutch international Orlando Engelaar left them to join Shalke 04 in the summer, and he will be a big loss to them.

McClaren added: "He was a big influence and our captain and to lose him was enormous for us."

The last time Wenger faced McClaren, the Gunners beat Middlesbrough 7-0 but the former England manager has, of course, 'masterminded' a cup victory over Arsenal in the past, when Boro beat Arsenal in the Carling Cup semi-final in 2004.

Somehow, I doubt that result will be repeated later this month.