Arsenal have been drawn against Arsene Wenger’s former club, Monaco, in the Champions League draw – the exact opponent their manager said in advance that he wanted.
Asked beforehand about the prospect of facing Monaco, whom he managed between 1987 and 1994 and who lie sixth in Ligue 1, Wenger said: “I’m not against it at all.
“It would be a visit to my first home.
“Of course I would love to go there.”
Manchester City’s tough luck in the Champions League draw continued with a second successive last-16 tie against Spanish giants, Barcelona.
The three English teams in the knockout stages learned their fate at Mondaymorning’s draw in Nyon, Switzerland.
Chelsea were paired with French Champions, Paris St Germain, in the first tie drawn, immediately followed by City against Barca – who knocked them out 4-1 on aggregate at this stage last season.
Chelsea’s opponents, PSG, lie second in Ligue 1 this season, a point behind Marseille after both teams suffered defeats on Sunday, and were runners-up to Barca in Group F with their only defeat coming at the Nou Camp.
Chelsea faced PSG in last season’s quarter-finals, winning the tie on away goals.
City scraped through a difficult Group E after winning a decisive final game against Roma while Arsenal were second to Borussia Dortmund in Group D.
Holders Real Madrid face Schalke in the last 16, with city rivals and beaten finalists Atletico drawn against Bayer Leverkusen.
The third Bundesliga side in the draw, Dortmund, take on Juventus in a repeat of the 1996 final while Basle face Porto.
Group winners will be away in the first legs, to be played on February 17, 18, 24 or 25, with the second legs on March 10, 11, 17 or 18.