Arsene Wenger’s Barcelona vow: no more pain in Spain

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has vowed that his team won't face destruction at the hands of Messi and co when they visit the Nou Camp.

In a repeat of last year's Champions League quarter final, the Gunners drew the Catalan giants in the last 16, as Wenger had predicted.

But unlike last year, Wenger is confident that his North London team won't be crushed. Last year, after holding Barca to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal were destroyed 4-1 thanks to a four-goal barrage by Argentine superstar Lionel Messi.

Barcelona are the clear favourites to progress through to the next round, but Wenger's having none of it.

"My reaction to the draw is very simple - difficult but possible," he said.

"I think we are better positioned than last year and we have a good opportunity to show that.

"Barcelona are certainly the favourites and a famous team. But on their side, they did not want us either because they know that will get a game.

"Revenge is not on my mind. We want to qualify and we want to knock them out. I didn't have a preference on which team we wanted to face. We will be on our toes. We will be ready."

Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie have both admitted that they wanted to be drawn against Barca to avenge last year's drubbing.