Arsenal to face Barcelona in Champions League last 16

Arsenal have been drawn against Barcelona in the Champions League draw which was conducted in Nyon, Switzerland this morning.

The Gunners clash with the Catalan side is a repeat of last year’s Champions League quarter-final, in which Barcelona came out on top on an aggregate scoreline of 6-3.

Arsenal will lament poor results against FC Braga and Shakhtar Donetsk away from home in the group stages of this year’s competition, which resulted in them finishing behind the Ukrainian side in Group H and left them vulnerable to facing sides of the calibre of Barcelona and fellow Spanish giants Real Madrid.

North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur have also landed a glamour tie, against Italian giants AC Milan. Harry Redknapp’s side have already played in the San Siro against Inter this season and will fancy their chances against a side that struggled behind Real Madrid in Group G.

There will numerous suggestions of conspiracy theories as Manchester United and Chelsea were handed relatively easy draws, against Marseille and FC Copenhagen respectively.

The other stand out tie of the draw is a repeat of last season’s Champions League final between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich.

Champions League draw in full:

AS Roma v Shakhtar Donetsk - First Leg: 16 February 2011; Second Leg: 8 March 2011

AC Milan v Tottenham Hotspur - First Leg: 15 February 2011; Second Leg: 9 March 2011

Valencia v Schalke 04 - First leg: 15 February 2011; Second Leg: 9 March 2011

Inter Milan v Bayern Munich - First Leg: 23 February 2011;Second Leg: 15 March 2011

Lyon v Real Madrid - First Leg: 22 February 2011; Second Leg: 16 March 2011

Arsenal v Barcelona - First Leg: 16 February 2011, Second Leg: 8 March 2011

Marseille v Manchester United - First Leg: 23 February 2011;Second Leg: 15 March 2011

FC Copenhagen v Chelsea - First Leg: 22 February 2011; Second Leg: 16 March 2011