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Arsenal draw champions AC Milan | Arsenal draw champions AC Milan |
(10 minutes later) | |
Arsenal have been paired with reigning Champions League title-holders AC Milan in the draw for the last 16. | Arsenal have been paired with reigning Champions League title-holders AC Milan in the draw for the last 16. |
Arsene Wenger's side and seven-time winners Milan meet for the first time in this competition, with the first leg at the Emirates Stadium in February. | Arsene Wenger's side and seven-time winners Milan meet for the first time in this competition, with the first leg at the Emirates Stadium in February. |
Celtic face the 2005 winners Barcelona, while Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will have to guide his side past French champions Lyon. | Celtic face the 2005 winners Barcelona, while Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will have to guide his side past French champions Lyon. |
Liverpool take on Inter Milan and Chelsea are up against Olympiakos. | Liverpool take on Inter Milan and Chelsea are up against Olympiakos. |
Interview: Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry Interview: Arsenal chief executive Keith Edelman Interview: Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell | Interview: Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry Interview: Arsenal chief executive Keith Edelman Interview: Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell |
Manchester United and Chelsea will both have the benefit of playing their second-leg games at home after finishing top of their qualifying groups. | Manchester United and Chelsea will both have the benefit of playing their second-leg games at home after finishing top of their qualifying groups. |
United's club secretary Ken Ramsden said Lyon, who knocked Rangers out in the group phase, will not be happy to have drawn the reigning Premier League champions. | United's club secretary Ken Ramsden said Lyon, who knocked Rangers out in the group phase, will not be happy to have drawn the reigning Premier League champions. |
"They are one of the better teams but they won't be pleased getting us," said Ramsden. | "They are one of the better teams but they won't be pleased getting us," said Ramsden. |
606: DEBATE Discuss the full ramifications of the draw on 606 | 606: DEBATE Discuss the full ramifications of the draw on 606 |
Arsenal, Celtic and Liverpool will all hope to set up platforms in their first leg ties before potentially tricky away trips, having finished second in their groups. | Arsenal, Celtic and Liverpool will all hope to set up platforms in their first leg ties before potentially tricky away trips, having finished second in their groups. |
Arsenal's managing director Keith Edelman admitted the Premier League leaders would have preferred an easier tie. | Arsenal's managing director Keith Edelman admitted the Premier League leaders would have preferred an easier tie. |
"It's going to be a great match, very exciting," he said. | "It's going to be a great match, very exciting," he said. |
"We've only played them once in a competitive match in 1994 (the European Super Cup), we drew at Highbury and lost at Milan so we can hopefully turn that round. | "We've only played them once in a competitive match in 1994 (the European Super Cup), we drew at Highbury and lost at Milan so we can hopefully turn that round. |
"We would have preferred an easier one at this stage but everyone will be looking forward to this tremendously." | "We would have preferred an easier one at this stage but everyone will be looking forward to this tremendously." |
It's a big one but was it going to be whoever we had drawn Liverpool chief Rick Parry | |
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry is aware of the threat posed by Inter, the Italian champions and current Serie A leaders | Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry is aware of the threat posed by Inter, the Italian champions and current Serie A leaders |
"It's a big one but was it going to be whoever we had drawn," said Parry. | "It's a big one but was it going to be whoever we had drawn," said Parry. |
"It's a long time since we played them, they are a very good team. It's going to be tough but there are no easy ones at this stage. | "It's a long time since we played them, they are a very good team. It's going to be tough but there are no easy ones at this stage. |
"Every team at this stage is a good team, if you look at who we could have drawn it was never going to be easy so we shall take who we get. | "Every team at this stage is a good team, if you look at who we could have drawn it was never going to be easy so we shall take who we get. |
"We've stopped a few hearts the way we have qualified but in the last three games we are clearly in form and scoring goals." | "We've stopped a few hearts the way we have qualified but in the last three games we are clearly in form and scoring goals." |
Liverpool's opponents will make life as difficult as possible for Rafael Benitez's men, according to Inter's chief executive Ernesto Paolillo. | Liverpool's opponents will make life as difficult as possible for Rafael Benitez's men, according to Inter's chief executive Ernesto Paolillo. |
"We feel Liverpool are the strongest team, what better team to have as an opponent?" he said. | "We feel Liverpool are the strongest team, what better team to have as an opponent?" he said. |
"I think Liverpool will make it difficult for us and I hope it will be difficult for them as well. | "I think Liverpool will make it difficult for us and I hope it will be difficult for them as well. |
"The history is in favour of Liverpool but our team has been in good form so I hope we will be in the right condition to win this match. | "The history is in favour of Liverpool but our team has been in good form so I hope we will be in the right condition to win this match. |
Full draw: | Full draw: |
Celtic v BarcelonaLyon v Manchester UnitedSchalke v PortoLiverpool v Inter MilanRoma v Real MadridArsenal v AC MilanOlympiakos v ChelseaFenerbahce v Sevilla | Celtic v BarcelonaLyon v Manchester UnitedSchalke v PortoLiverpool v Inter MilanRoma v Real MadridArsenal v AC MilanOlympiakos v ChelseaFenerbahce v Sevilla |
(Ties to be played on 19/20 February and 4/5 March) | (Ties to be played on 19/20 February and 4/5 March) |