Defending champion Barcelona will face Arsenal in the last 16 of the Champions League after Monday’s draw in Nyon.
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Much of Arsenal‘s hopes of making it through to the quarterfinals will rest on Alexis Sanchez, and the Chilean will have plenty of motivation to make an impression at the Camp Nou, where he was never truly valued.
“We would like to avoid B and B”, said Blanc, referring to title-holders Barca and Bundesliga leaders Bayern.
Arsenal secretary David Miles admits drawing Barcelona in the Champions League is the last thing fans would have wanted. “We’re two sides with a similar understanding of the game”, said Barca director Albert Soler.
“We might have hoped to be luckier in this draw but I like our team in Europe so far”, Juventus vice president Pavel Nedved said.
“The Champions League is about details, too, like past year; if we had everyone available to play against Barcelona in both games it would have been totally different”.
“Yeah, I mean Barcelona are full of great players”.
Unfortunately for Arsenal, they will head into the tie as serious underdogs, and Premier League rivals Manchester City couldn’t wait to rub their noses in it having lost to the Catalans for the past two seasons.
“We’re all unanimous in saying that there are only good teams left – we all know that”.
Real Madrid and Roma have also seen a lot of each other in the competition, although not since 2008 when the Italians won home and away in the last 16.
“We know what can happen if you have 10 poor minutes on a European night”.
That might just give Arsenal the edge they need in what looks like being a very open race for top spot.
Regardless of the empty terraces, City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain warned of any complacency.
“They have shown they are a good team and for us the challenge is to improve in this competition and move forward”.
Barca could have faced the Gunners, PSG, Juventus, PSV, Gent or Dynamo Kiev after topping Group E. The draw eventually paired them with Arsene Wenger’s side, who finished second in their group behind Bayern Munich following a 3-0 victory over Olympiacos.
Gent, in their first participation in the competition, will take on Germany’s VfL Wolfsburg.
Arsenal have only beaten Barcelona once in their history, a 2-1 win at the Emirates in 2011 that saw a 19-year-old Jack Wilshere take centre stage as he put in a stunning performance.
He said on the club website: “I think it will be tougher this season than past year”.
First legs are scheduled to take place on 16-17 and 23-24 February.
Also, Ten time champs, Real Madrid, will face Roma.
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The English club was drawn to face Augsburg, with the first leg on February 18 and the second leg a week later.
