For the majority of Arsenal players and fans, Rennes are not the most romantic club they could have drawn in the Europa League round of 16.
Petr Cech, on the other hand, was thrilled after the Gunners were paired with the Ligue 1 club - he played for them between 2002 and 2004.
Cech, who made 70 league appearances for Rennes, has said he will retire this summer from professional football.
However he gets the opportunity to face off against one of his former clubs before he hangs up his gloves, and expressed his delight on Twitter.
Cech wrote: 'When a goalkeeper makes the draw good things happen!' He then wrote the same message again in French - for Rennes - and in Spanish.
The Spanish was in honour of Andres Palop, the former Sevilla and Valencia stopper who conducted the draw in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday. Cech added the cheeky hashtag '#gkunion' as a show of camaraderie with his fellow keeper.
Cech made his name in Rennes for two seasons before moving to the Premier League with Chelsea in 2004.
He stayed with the Blues for a trophy-laden 11-year spell, before losing his first team place to Thibaut Courtois and moving across London to Arsenal.
Now 36, he has been displaced as No 1 again, this time by Bernd Leno, and has decided to call time on his professional career at the end of the season.
However, Cech has played in four of Arsenal's Europa League games this season, including both legs of the round of 32 win over BATE Borisov, and will hope to maintain his place against the French club.
topewest
0
i hope Cech will not play them
ShidAfter1
4
Whowever comes across Arsenal we are ready
jealousyh
1
I won't be taking French opposition lightly. I remember a few seasons ago I was celebrating drawing Monaco in the CL because they were clearly one of the weaker teams in the last 16. You know what happened next.
July4
1
Thank god for a good draw for us, especially since we'll be missing Laca for both legs.
Sallyy
2
Rennes are the last team to beat PSG at home (which was Emery's last game). They also have Ben Arfa who Emery fell out with at PSG.
outspoken
0
Cool. We'll be stronger for quarter-finals and then we can take anyone left.
sonmluts
0
Interesting match up, Hatem Ben Arfa returning to England, Niang is a dangerous player too as well as Sarr.
Mahendraer
0
Veery happy! Should be doable! COYG
Balcombe
0
It's nice to have something different for once, Stade Rennais will be a fun draw but our performances have o be substantially better.
addition
0
We got lucky, Rennes might be the best draw this round. Close by and they are struggling in league 1.
Kristinstucki
0
Best draw IMHO. Closest to home, Chelsea aside.
Robersonsol
0
NLD, United, and two legs vs. Rennes in the span of 12 days. These first two weeks in March could make or break this season.
crazyme
0
Couldn't ask for a much better draw. Need to play much better in the away tie this go around.
ruinous
0
I'm fine with Rennes, but I don't think it'll be a walk in the park. They beat Betis away 3-1, after going 3-3 in the first leg. Looks like a team that can score goals, and knows it. Should be a fun tie though!
Paullove
0
Emery deep knowledge of Ligue 1 should carry the tie in our favor...and play Ozil
Dedemis
0
Avoided any massive ties, but still a good test. Perfectly fine draw.
Darcybecky
0
Not the best draw but could have been MUCH worse. Should be an interesting tie, I’m confident we will win.
Julylove
0
Decent draw. Although all the big teams avoided eachother so it'll only get harder.
Jeremye
0
Fine draw for us. Unfortunately the big clubs avoided each other. Really could have used with a few of them matched with each other. Inter vs Frankfurt is the only one to get a good team out of the tournament.
Karenen
0
Some Arsenal legends have played for Rennes in the past - Wiltord, Silvestre, Cech and Kallstrom
teenager
0
The worst thing we can do is underestimate them, Rennes have some dangerous players and are quite fun to watch For sure beats a Napoli or Chels tho
materialism
0
Good draw. Not too far away from home, not too obscure team, not too excellent either.COYG!
lodging
0
Every away game is hard for us...i expect us to concede a few
killbaby
0
Should win the game, but they're the team who beat Betis. Not easy game anyway.COYG
KAUSTT
0
I am very happy with this, very happy. Soooooo glad we've avoided Napoli/Inter/Sevilla/Eintract/Chelsea GET IN
like008
0
Good draw. At least we don’t have to travel to the other side of Europe
jazbcou
0
bring it on