If Arsenal do emerge as the kings of Europe this season, they will have to negotiate a series of major obstacles between now and May 22 in Madrid.The first - and most formidable - comes in the quarter-finals when they will face Barcelona, the team everybody wanted to avoid.
The draw at Fifa's headquarters in Nyon paired the two teams who met in the 2006 final when the Spaniards won 2-1 after Sol Campbell put Arsenal ahead, while Manchester United will face Bayern Munich.
Barcelona will be the favourites against Arsene Wenger's team particularly with Argentina's Lionel Messi is such scintillating form.
But Arsenal are starting to come good at the right time of the season and, in Barcelona target Cesc Fabregas, possess one of the few players capable of matching Messi's influence.
Thierry Henry will return to Arsenal in the Barcelona squad and , despite his controversial goal for France against the Republic of Ireland, is set to receive a far warmer welcome than he would at any other ground in the UK.
Former Arsenal favourite Charlie Nicholas said:"I can't wait for these games. They will be sensational."
Little went right for the Gunners in Nyon as their odds to win the trophy immediately drifted to 9/1 from 13/2 - an indication of how difficult it will be for them to progress.
They also came out of the hat first, which means the second leg will be in Camp Nou, which delighted the Spaniards, who have never lost in three meetings with Arsenal.
And, if they do go through., Arsenal, are also likely to face a difficult tie against Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan, who are overwhelming favourites to beat CSKA Moscow in their last eight meeting.
The draw was far more favourable to United, who will travel to Munich for the first leg against a team that scraped through against Fiorentina in the last round.
Bayern, currently two points clear of Schalke 04 at the top of the Bundesliga, have won the European Cup four times - once more than United.
And one of those United wins was in the 1999 final when they famously snatched the trophy away from the Germans with two late goals.
Dwight Yorke, who was in the United team on that night, knows Bayern will make it difficult for Sir Alex Ferguson's team
He said;"I'm worried about the Germans. They are always very difficult to play against and have a very experienced manager in Louis van Gaal.
"He knows about English football and will certainly know about Manchester United and Wayne Rooney.
"United will have to be very cautious when they go there because Bayern don't give a lot away. They are tactically sound and don't make too many mistakes. I'm still pretty confident, though, because the second leg will be at home."
Owen Hargreaves, signed from Bayern Munich, is on the verge of a return after suffering an injury nightmare at United, but the quarter-finals will probably come too soon for him to be involved.
The first game to emerge from the draw paired Lyon and Bordeaux, guaranteeing that France will have a team in the semi-finals, where they will be away in the first leg to Munich or United.
Inter, who have lifted the European Cup twice, will be at home in their first leg to CSKA Moscow, who have reached the quarter-finals for the first time in their history. The full draw is:
QUARTER-FINALS
1-Lyon v Bordeaux
2-Bayern Munich v Manchester United
3-Arsenal v Barcelona
4-Inter Milan v CSKA Moscow
Games to be played March 30/31 and April 6/7.
SEMI-FINALS
Winners Game 1 v Winners Game 2
Winners Game 4 v Winners game 3
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Man u all the way
Why don`t English clubs have the English flag on their shirts, most of the foreign clubs have their national flag on theirs when playing in the champions league?