meetuinzion
Debutant
Chelsea land Arsenal in Champs Lge
Arsenal will have to overcome London rivals Chelsea in the Champions League to keep their treble dream alive this season.
The Premiership's top two clubs were paired together when the draw for the quarter-finals was made by UEFA in Nyon today.
The game will be the first between two English clubs in Europe in the era since the country's six-year ban from continental competition was lifted in 1991.
Arsenal have already beaten Chelsea three times this season, including twice last month when they overcame them 2-1 in both the Premiership and FA Cup
Chelsea have not beaten the Gunners in 16 attempts and are yet to taste victory against them under Claudio Ranieri.
Neither side has ever reached the semi-finals of Europe's elite competition but will have the carrot of a last-four clash against either nine-time winners Real Madrid or Monaco to aim for.
The other quarter-finals will see holders AC Milan play Deportivo La Coruna and Manchester United's conquerors Porto take on Lyon.
Arsenal and Chelsea officials admitted after the draw that the clubs would have preferred to avoid each other until later in the competition.
Arsene Wenger said Arsenal hold the psychological edge over Chelsea.
'We know that we've already beaten Chelsea and that we can do it again if we perform at our best as we've shown that before,' warned Wenger.
'They have always been hard games against Chelsea but maybe we've had the psychological advantage.
'All runs eventually have to come to an end - but hopefully as late as possible! We will treat it as a normal game, like the semi-finals of the FA Cup.'
Wenger and Patrick Vieira had nevertheless both expressed their desire to avoid Chelsea in today's draw in Switzerland as they had hoped to save Ranieri's side until at least the semi-finals.
Wenger admitted: 'The good thing is that there will be an English team in the semi-finals. `But the negative thing is that it takes a bit of the charm away from a European Cup tie. You expect to play a team from another country.'
Chelsea and Arsenal have both lost their only previous Champions League quarter-final tie, with the Blues beaten by Barcelona in 2000 and the Gunners going out to Valencia the following year.
The fact that Real Madrid could lie ahead in the semi-finals also increases the overall task of either English side.
'No matter which team does it, they are worthy winners. But at the moment, we have a big task in the quarter-finals and it's not sure that the winners will face Real Madrid,' insisted Wenger.
Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein said: 'I think one of the joys of playing in Europe is playing teams from overseas - and having played Chelsea three times, it is a bit anti-climactic.
'But we have to remember we have never progressed beyond the quarter-finals. The last time was 2001, and we have got to do better than that. There is a great spirit in the team, and they are playing some pretty football - and I hope it lasts.
'One of the most exciting things in Europe is it's a great test of one's ability. There is no such thing as an easy game. Look at Manchester United and Juventus - they didn't get through.
'We've got a strong squad; team spirit is the best I have known, and there is tremendous talent in the squad.'
Chelsea secretary David Barnard said: 'It is a bit of an anti-climax. We've no opportunity to use our passports again, but it gives us the opportunity to put right the previous results against them this season.
'I think it will be an historic game. Neither club has got further than the quarter-finals. We've not got the challenge of foreign opponents and we know each other back to front. We know enough about them.'
The ties are due to take place in two legs, between March 23-24 and April 6-7. Chelsea will play the first leg at home.
Why why why ???????
Do Arsenal have to kick us out of all competitions this year.
Cant they just stop at the premiership and the fa cup ?
Arsenal will have to overcome London rivals Chelsea in the Champions League to keep their treble dream alive this season.
The Premiership's top two clubs were paired together when the draw for the quarter-finals was made by UEFA in Nyon today.
The game will be the first between two English clubs in Europe in the era since the country's six-year ban from continental competition was lifted in 1991.
Arsenal have already beaten Chelsea three times this season, including twice last month when they overcame them 2-1 in both the Premiership and FA Cup
Chelsea have not beaten the Gunners in 16 attempts and are yet to taste victory against them under Claudio Ranieri.
Neither side has ever reached the semi-finals of Europe's elite competition but will have the carrot of a last-four clash against either nine-time winners Real Madrid or Monaco to aim for.
The other quarter-finals will see holders AC Milan play Deportivo La Coruna and Manchester United's conquerors Porto take on Lyon.
Arsenal and Chelsea officials admitted after the draw that the clubs would have preferred to avoid each other until later in the competition.
Arsene Wenger said Arsenal hold the psychological edge over Chelsea.
'We know that we've already beaten Chelsea and that we can do it again if we perform at our best as we've shown that before,' warned Wenger.
'They have always been hard games against Chelsea but maybe we've had the psychological advantage.
'All runs eventually have to come to an end - but hopefully as late as possible! We will treat it as a normal game, like the semi-finals of the FA Cup.'
Wenger and Patrick Vieira had nevertheless both expressed their desire to avoid Chelsea in today's draw in Switzerland as they had hoped to save Ranieri's side until at least the semi-finals.
Wenger admitted: 'The good thing is that there will be an English team in the semi-finals. `But the negative thing is that it takes a bit of the charm away from a European Cup tie. You expect to play a team from another country.'
Chelsea and Arsenal have both lost their only previous Champions League quarter-final tie, with the Blues beaten by Barcelona in 2000 and the Gunners going out to Valencia the following year.
The fact that Real Madrid could lie ahead in the semi-finals also increases the overall task of either English side.
'No matter which team does it, they are worthy winners. But at the moment, we have a big task in the quarter-finals and it's not sure that the winners will face Real Madrid,' insisted Wenger.
Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein said: 'I think one of the joys of playing in Europe is playing teams from overseas - and having played Chelsea three times, it is a bit anti-climactic.
'But we have to remember we have never progressed beyond the quarter-finals. The last time was 2001, and we have got to do better than that. There is a great spirit in the team, and they are playing some pretty football - and I hope it lasts.
'One of the most exciting things in Europe is it's a great test of one's ability. There is no such thing as an easy game. Look at Manchester United and Juventus - they didn't get through.
'We've got a strong squad; team spirit is the best I have known, and there is tremendous talent in the squad.'
Chelsea secretary David Barnard said: 'It is a bit of an anti-climax. We've no opportunity to use our passports again, but it gives us the opportunity to put right the previous results against them this season.
'I think it will be an historic game. Neither club has got further than the quarter-finals. We've not got the challenge of foreign opponents and we know each other back to front. We know enough about them.'
The ties are due to take place in two legs, between March 23-24 and April 6-7. Chelsea will play the first leg at home.
Why why why ???????
Do Arsenal have to kick us out of all competitions this year.
Cant they just stop at the premiership and the fa cup ?
