Arsenal will meet AC Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League, while Chelsea have been drawn against Napoli.
Twelve months after being paired against Barcelona at this stage, the Gunners look to once again have gotten the toughest draw available. As group winners, Arsene Wenger’s men will travel to Milan for the first leg before welcoming the Rossoneri to the Emirates.
Arsenal can point to their last meeting with Milan, when they won 2-0 at the San Siro at the same stage 2007/08. Milan were then the defending champions, but were second to Barcelona in this season's group campaign.
Arsenal have always gotten past Italian opposition in European knockout games, while English sides have knocked them out at this stage three times in the last four seasons. Manchester United did so two years ago, while Tottenham Hotspur conquered them last year.
Milan’s fellow Serie A side Napoli impressed on their way to taking four points from Manchester City in the group stage and will provide very tough opposition for Andrew Villas-Boas’ Chelsea, who also begin the knockout stage in Italy.
With Roman Abramovich still to taste the Champions League success he has long desired, and came so close to in 2008, there were easier draws available. However, Villas-Boas took Porto to Europa League success last term and will be confident of more knockout success with the Blues, who are just returning to form after a tricky spell.
Elsewhere in the draw that was made in Nyon on Friday, defending champions Barcelona will play Bayer Leverkusen, while Real Madrid take on CSKA Moscow and Inter Milan have been drawn to meet Marseille.
Basel’s reward for putting an end to Manchester United’s Champions League campaign is a tie with Bayern Munich, who will be desperate to reach the final when it is held at their own Allianz Arena.
Cypriot minnows APOEL Nicosia, playing at this stage for the first time, have been drawn to play competition regulars Lyon, while Zenit St Petersburg and Benfica clash in the remaining tie.
Champions League Last 16 - first legs February 14/15/21/22, second legs March 6/7/13/14:
Lyon v APOEL Nicosia
Napoli v Chelsea
AC Milan v Arsenal
Basel v Bayern Munich
Bayer Leverkusen v Barcelona
CSKA Moscow v Real Madrid
Zenit St Petersburg v Benfica
Marseille v Inter Milan