Arsenal luckily avoided more challenging opposition in the form of last year's winners 1. FFC Frankfurt, of Germany, and the beaten finalists - Sweden's Umea IK. The Gunners were England's representatives in the inaugural competition last season, and reached the quarter-finals before losing over two legs to France's league winners Toulouse.

Vic Akers side will be hoping to reach the last eight by once again going through the initial group stage unbeaten and will enjoy the home advantage.

After much speculation of a second group stage, UEFA has decided to keep the same format as last season - with the eight group winners from the initial stage progressing through to the quarter-finals.

As there were 35 entrants to this season's competition, initial qualifying matches will be staged to bring the entrants down to 32. The competitors in the qualifying round are Lefkothea from Cyprus, Lisburn Distillery Predators WFC of Northern Ireland, Slovenia's ZNK Skale Mila and Gomrukçu Bakum of Azerbaijan. The winning team, that will go through to Arsenal's Group 7, will be decided by September 3rd.