• Arsenal drawn with Dortmund, Napoli and Marseille
• Celtic pitted against Barcelona, Milan and Ajax
• Look back at how the Champions League draw unfolded
Arsenal face a daunting task after being drawn alongside last season's runners-up Borussia Dortmund, Rafael Benítez's Napoli and Marseille in the Champions League group stage.
Arsène Wenger's side, who qualified after completing a comprehensive play-off win over Fenerbahce this week, were placed in the tough-looking Group F at Uefa's draw in Monaco.
Celtic, who famously beat Barcelona last season, will face the Catalans again along with two other former winners in Group H in Milan and Ajax.
Manchester City will play the reigning champions Bayern Munich – who they faced two years ago – and CSKA Moscow and Viktoria Plzen in Group D.
Chelsea tackle two of the sides they conquered en route to last year's Europa League success in Basel and Steaua Bucharest, as well as Schalke, in Group E.
David Moyes's Champions League bow with Manchester United will come against Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayer Leverkusen and Real Sociedad in Group A.
The draws for Arsenal and Celtic were the most eye-catching of those handed to the British sides. Arsenal, who have reached this stage of the competition for 16 successive seasons, also played Dortmund in their group two years ago. On that occasion Dortmund finished bottom of the section but the Germans are now a much tougher proposition and impressed throughout their run to the final last year. Napoli, where Benítez took charge after leaving Chelsea this summer, were the side in pot four most clubs wanted to avoid.
Celtic clinched their place in the draw after a dramatic play-off comeback against Shakhter Karagandy. Neil Lennon's side memorably beat Barça at Parkhead in last season's group stage with a dramatic late goal from Tony Watt. Milan and Ajax add further glamour to the group. The four clubs between them have won 16 European titles.
Lennon told Sky Sports News: "I think it is the best and the worst draw we could have got. In terms of glamour I don't think it comes any better than Barcelona, Ajax and AC Milan. In terms of football it is probably the most difficult group we could have got. But I think the hard work was really done last night and we can go and enjoy the tournament now."
After tough draws and disappointing group stage exits in each of the past two seasons, City had feared another hard set of fixtures. But although they must take on Bayern again, they may be relieved to be facing two of the continent's lesser lights in CSKA and the Czech side Viktoria Plzen.
The City manager, Manuel Pellegrini, has taken both Villarreal and Málaga to the latter stages of the competition and there would be disappointment if City failed to reach the knockout rounds again. The City captain, Vincent Kompany, tweeted: "Interesting draw. Big year for us."
The groups
Group A: Manchester United, Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayer Leverkusen, Real Sociedad.
Group B: Real Madrid, Juventus, Galatasaray, FC Copenhagen.
Group C: PSG, Benfica, Olympiakos, Anderlecht.
Group D: Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, Manchester City, FC Viktoria Plzen.
Group E: Chelsea, Schalke, FC Basel, Steaua Bucharest.
Group F: Arsenal, Marseille, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli.
Group G: Porto, Atlético Madrid, Zenit St Petersburg, Austria Vienna.
Group H: Barcelona, Milan, Ajax, Celtic.
via Football: Chelsea | theguardian.com http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/29/champions-league-groups-2013-14
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