Arsenal will face former England boss Steve McClaren's FC Twente in the Champions League third qualifying round.

McClaren took the reins at the Dutch side earlier this summer and the Eredivisie outfit will make their Champions League debut after beating Ajax in a play-off last season.

The two-legged tie will be played on August 12/13 and August 26/27.

McClaren told Sky Sports News: "It was strange, because as soon as I joined (Twente) I knew we had the draw coming up.

"I expected one of the English teams. I think fate deals you certain cards and it has dealt us this draw.

"On one hand it's very, very tough for us but on the other it is very exciting."

He added: "I think of all the teams we could have had, that is the toughest - or one of the toughest.

"Obviously we looked at Arsenal, Liverpool, Juventus, Schalke and we got one of the most difficult.

"In one respect it's a tough draw for us; on the other it's now an opponent we know very well, not just myself, everyone in Holland knows the Premier League well so Arsenal will be no strangers to us.

"This is a reward for a great achievement last season in reaching this stage, to get one of the big teams.

"It will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that doesn't come along that often. I'm sure the fans will be delighted.

Arsenal company secretary David Miles told Sky Sports News: "We will be pleased with the draw; logistically Holland isn't too far and it will give our fans the opportunity to see the game.

"When Steve was first-team coach for the national team and then manager they used to use our training ground (at London Colney) so there are good relations there."

Asked whether he thought McClaren would be disappointed to have landed such a tough draw, Miles added: "I'm assuming people will say Arsenal are one of the strongest seeded teams and he might have been hoping for someone else, but that's what the draw brought us and we get on with it."

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