League form not a factor in PSG clash – Chelsea´s Barnard
Man City will be pleased to have avoided the unsafe PSG as they bid to reach the quarter-finals for the first time but their fans may be frustrated about the Kyiv situation.
In fact drawing Arsenal could be a good omen for the Catalan club who went on to win the Champions League that season as they comfortably beat Manchester United in the final.
Meanwhile, Chelsea will renew hostilities for the third straight year with PSG, who were arguably the toughest team they could have faced in the last 16.
Their dreams proved to be short-lived.
After the draw, club secretary David Miles provided the reaction that many Arsenal supporters probably would have echoed.
Perhaps he too had considered the prospect of watching Per Mertesacker attempt to keep Europe’s deadliest trio at bay.
Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea may be struggling domestically, but they are being backed to progress further into the Champions League than Premier League-leaders Arsenal.
Gent, in their first participation in the competition, will take on Germany’s VfL Wolfsburg.
The Ukranian side must play their next three European home games in an empty stadium as a UEFA punishment for racist fan behaviour. Arsenal are a team who like to have the ball and we will enjoy that. Benfica face Zenit St Petersburg.
“We are certain to see a sporting spectacular”, Barca director Albert Soler said. Arsenal are not favorites here, but we don’t consider ourselves outright favorites. “If you know a little about football, today PSG is the favorite to advance to the quarterfinals, and that is a great responsibility”, he said after the draw when asked if Chelsea would pose a more potent threat given the club’s woes. They have a very good team, magnificent players and play good football.
After finishing second to Real Madrid in Group A, PSG managed to avoid tournament favourites Barcelona and Bayern Munich but that does not mean Blanc was relieved to see Chelsea come out of the hat. That lead evaporated in the return match, but if the Gunners are to have any chance this time, they’ll need a similarly strong performance in the first leg at the Emirates.