Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits that despite finishing at the top of their Champions League group, qualifying for the quarter-finals will remain a big challenge for his players.
A win over FC Basel on Tuesday night, coupled with Paris Saint-Germain’s failure to beat Ludogorets at home meant Arsenal finished at the top of their Champions League group.
The Gunners have been failing to move beyond the last 16 of the competition for the last six years running and Wenger admits that will remain a big challenge for his players.
With team such as Bayern Munich and Real Madrid finishing second in their respective groups, Arsenal could still come up against a top team in the first knockout round.
But Wenger is unwilling to take a psychological step backwards by saying that he would prefer not to face one of the European superpowers in the last 16 clash.
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The Frenchman said in a press conference: “You look at the teams you can get, some look more prestigious, more difficult.
"You would like me to say I do not want this, I do not want that.
“That would put us in a disadvantaged position; we have not qualified for six years for the quarter-final, which will be a huge challenge for my group.”
Asked if he feels Arsenal are due some luck in the last 16 draw, Wenger said: “I don’t know who decides the luck, but I have not found a way to speak to this person.”
