Arsenal will play Steve McClaren's FC Twente in the third qualifying round of the Champions League - a draw the former England manager today described as fate.

McClaren took charge of the Dutch side in June and the Eredivisie outfit will make their debut in the competition after beating Ajax in a play-off last season.

The 47-year-old is relishing the prospect of locking horns with a Premier League club after a dismal year in charge of England that culminated in the failure to qualify for Euro 2008.

"I expected one of the English teams. I think fate deals you certain cards and it has dealt us this draw," said McClaren, whose side will host the first leg before travelling to London.

"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."

The Arsenal company secretary, David Miles, said: "We are pleased with the draw; logistically Holland isn't too far and it will give our fans the opportunity to see the game."

Elsewhere in the draw, the ties for which will be played on 12/13 & 26/27 August, Liverpool will face Belgian Champions Standard Liege, with the first leg away.

If Rangers manage to turn a first-qualifying round, first-leg 0-0 draw against FBK Kaunas into a win, they should take on Danish side Aalborg, who lead Bosnia's Modrica 5-0.

In the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup, Manchester City will face Danish side FC Midtjylland, while Aston Villa face Icelanders Hafnarfjordur.