It's worth noting that this year's Champions League final will be in Budapest on Saturday 30 May.

Former Arsenal favourite Robert Pires is now on stage. He says he likes the new format...

I refer you to Daniel's previous message.

Cue Uefa's deputy general secretary Giorgio Marchetti with the introduction...

There is normally a montage or two, a few special guests introduced, as well as those conducting the draw.

Also expect a long-winded explanation of how it all works - that will leave you none-the-wiser - then the draw will begin.

It's always a littler painful, but will be over before you know it. Like having a tooth pulled...

The stream is starting now folks, click play. The music is playing...

You are an old hand at this Glyn, we can tell it's not your first rodeo...

As ever, we want to hear from you during the Champions League draw.

Just use the 'Get Involved' tab to have your say and we will feature as many messages as possible in this live page.

Champions League

So today's knockout play-offs draw will not show who the top eight teams could face in the last 16.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City don't find out their opponents until the latter stages draw on 27 February.

What we do know is that the Gunners (top seed) are unable to face Bayern Munich (second seed) until the final.

Champions League

You may hear talk about silver and blue pathways in today's Champions League draw - this is where it can get interesting for the five English sides that have made it straight through to the last 16.

None of those teams - Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City - will find out today who they will play in the last 16, nor will they find out which 'pathway' they are on.

But they will be able to check out which side of the draw - the silver or blue pathway - they might prefer. To avoid PSG? To avoid Real Madrid?

Half of today's knockout play-off ties will be placed on the silver pathway, and half will be on the blue pathway.

Sides on each pathway will not be able to meet until the final.

Those teams that finished in the top eight will be added to a pathway in a second draw, which will take place on 27 February, after the knockout play-offs have been completed.

The process is fairly simple.

Clubs are paired together based on where they finished at the end of the league phase to form seeded and unseeded pairs.

The teams that finished ninth to 16th will be in the seeded pairs, while 17th to 24th will be in unseeded pairs.

The seeded teams are drawn against unseeded teams. For example, 15th and 16th will face 17th and 18th.

The seeded teams will play the second legs at home.

As Newcastle finished in 11th position, they will be paired with 12th-placed Paris St-Germain as a seeded pair.

They are guaranteed to face either Monaco or Qarabag in the play-offs as they ended the league phase in 21st and 22nd respectively.

You can see a visual representation of the brackets below.

Image source, Uefa

Champions League

Sixteen teams - including Newcastle United - go into today's play-off draw and while we await the outcome of who each will face, there isn't much choice.

Each team only has the option to face one of two sides due to the pairing system.

Real Madrid and Inter Milan finished ninth and 10th respectively, so are grouped together as a pair. That means they can only face one of Bodo/Glimt or Benfica, who finished in the final two play-off spots.

That continues all the way down, so Paris St-Germain (11th) and Newcastle (12th) can only face Monaco (21st) or Qarabag (22nd) and so on.

Every potential play-off fixture:

• Monaco or Qarabag v Paris St-Germain or Newcastle
• Club Brugge or Galatasaray v Juventus or Atletico Madrid
• Bodo/Glimt or Benfica v Real Madrid or Inter Milan
• Borussia Dortmund or Olympiakos v Atalanta or Bayer Leverkusen

Champions League

For clarification, today's draw will ONLY be for the knockout play-offs.

There will be a second draw on 27 February, which will determine the last-16 ties, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.

Today's draw will take place from 11:00 GMT and will determine who teams such as Newcastle United, Paris St-Germain and Real Madrid will play in the knockout play-offs.

Those eight play-offs will be played across two legs next month (17-18 February & 24-25 February).

The second draw - on 27 February - will involve the five English sides that finished in the top eight of the league phase - Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City.

The dates for the knockout phase are as follows:

• Knockout play-offs: 17-18 February and 24-25 February
• Last 16: 10-11 and 17-18 March
• Quarter-finals: 7-8 and 14-15 April
• Semi-finals: 28-29 April and 5-6 May
• Final: 30 May

Champions League

Right, it's time to switch our focus to the Champions League.

The draw for the knockout play-offs will take place today from 11:00 GMT and you will be able to watch it live in this page.

Just click on the 'watch live' play icon at the top of this page.

And stick with us as we provide you live text coverage.

Arsenal

A final word from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on the fitness of Jurrien Timber and William Saliba ahead of Leeds clash: "They are ok. They have played a lot of minutes. It was a really good opportunity to offload them."

He also confirmed there are no fresh injury concerns.

Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on Pep Guardiola's comments on Arsenal being the 'best team in the world', and if he thinks Guardiola is playing mind games: "With me? I don't think so.

"We talk generally, he talks about how he feels and that's it. If there are mind games, there are mind games. I don't pay too much attention, we just have to go on the pitch and deliver."

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on comparing his relationship with Pep Guardiola to Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger's relationship: "That relationship was different, I have known Pep since I was 15 and I lived four and a half years with him every single day.

"It is different. I'm sure Pep had a great relationship with Enzo [Maresca], and they worked together and can still be rivals.

"The same will happen with players. I had players here and then I have to play against them. Against Granit [Xhaka], I love Granit but if I have to play on the pitch we go to war because I know how he is as well."

Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on the Premier League title race: "When you lose a game, you have a lot of feelings. This group of players are so competitive and seek excellence. When you don't reach it, you ask yourself questions.

"My role is to bring optimism and reality of where we are. Our club has a long history, and to find a moment when in February we are in this position, is difficult to find. Guys, we are doing so many things so well, let's focus on that."

Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport

We've got just about enough time to bring you the top lines from Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta now and then we'll be straight into the Champions League play-off draw.

If anyone has time to stick me the kettle on in the meantime I'd be eternally grateful.

Newcastle United

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe on whether he would prefer Monaco or Qarabag in the Champions League play-off: "Yes [shorter travel is important] so Monaco possibly makes sense. But whoever we get it will be a great moment for us.

"We head with real positivity and I am excited to see who we get."

Newcastle United

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe on Joelinton's fitness: "He flew on to Barcelona to get an injection into his groin. The specialist feels he only needs one injection so we are looking at weeks not months."

On Tino Livramento: "He's doing well. I believe he's having a scan today. A second scan to see the progress of his hamstring. Fingers crossed it's good news and if it is, he'll be back out running. We're still probably five to six weeks away and we're looking at an early March return, providing everything goes well."