UEFA Europa League Group Stage Predictions: Arsenal to ease through, Tricky for the Toffees

Group G

Czech League runners-up Viktoria Plzen (in red) are in Group G

Now for a quartet where it's likely no side will stand out to you. In Group G, runners-up in the Czech League Viktoria Plzen are joined by Romania's FC Steaua Bucuresti, Israeli outfit Hapoel Beer-Sheva and Swiss side Lugano.

Coincidentally, Viktoria Plzen and FC Steaua Bucuresti have already met in European competition this season, with the latter dispatching the Czech side in the third qualifying round of the Champions League before being knocked out themselves by Sporting Lisbon in the playoff round. Hapoel Beer-Sheva fell at the same hurdle, meaning three of the four sides in this group were initially involved in qualification for Europe's primary club competition.

FC Steaua Bucuresti have been involved in the Europa League group phase in three out of the past four seasons and are an intimidating side to face at their 55,000 seat capacity stadium, whilst Viktoria Plzen looked especially solid at the back in their 3-1 aggregate win over AEK Larnaca in the playoff round. Overall, this group is anyone's for the taking but experience will most likely count for Steaua Bucuresti and Viktoria Plzen.

1st - FC Steaua Bucresti

2nd - Viktoria Plzen

3rd - Hapoel Beer-Sheva

4th - Lugano

Group H

Ivan Gazidis suggested that Arsenal's failure to qualify for the Champions League last season was a 'catalyst for change', yet very little feels different at the Emirates right now - same manager, same leaky defence, same defeat to Stoke City. That said, the Gunners are set to start a season in the Europa League for the first time in twenty years.

Arsene Wenger and co. would've fancied their chances against any opposition but will likely be especially happy with BATE Borisov, FC Köln and Serbian side Crvena zvezda in their group. Despite making it difficult for themselves on many an occasion by finishing second, the Gunners always found their way out of Champions League groups and only a serious shock would mean their Europa League campaign will start any differently.

Likely to join the North London side in the knockout stages are FC Köln, who finished fifth in the Bundesliga last term. The club have lost last season's top goalscorer Anthony Modeste to Tianjin Quanjian on a two-year loan deal but on paper still have quality in the likes of Leonardo Bittencourt and Jonas Hector to ensure neither BATE Borisov nor Crvena zvezda cause any problems.

1st - Arsenal

2nd - FC Köln

3rd - BATE Borisov

4th - Crvena zvezda