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ARSENAL will play Italian giants AC Milan in the last-16 of the Europa League.
The Gunners – who suffered a scare to progress against Ostersunds in the round of 32 – will travel to the San Siro for the first leg on Thursday, March 8.
The second leg takes place at the Emirates Stadium the following week on Thursday, March 15.
It is the standout tie of the last-16 but Arsene Wenger will be hoping his side have enough in the tank to progress to the quarter-final stage.
Meanwhile, Chelsea loanee Michy Batshuayi will face Salzburg after Borussia Dortmund drew the Austrian club.
Express Sport brought you all the action from Nyon including the last-16 draw in full.
Europa League last-16 draw
AC Milan vs Arsenal
12.25: So Arsenal are drawn against AC Milan.
It could have been worse but it could have been better.
It might initially look like a tough tie for Arsenal but Milan aren’t the dominant force of Italian football they once were.
They are currently seventh in the Serie A table with 41 points from 25 games – 25 points behind leaders Napoli.
Last summer’s splurge in the transfer market hasn’t quite paid dividends but they’re starting to hit some form under Gennaro Gattuso.
Europa League last-16 draw
Dynamo Kiev vs Lazio
Leipzig vs Zenit
Atletico Madrid vs Lokomotiv Moscow
CSKA Moscow vs Lyon
Marseille vs Athletic Bilbao
Sporting Lisbon vs Plzen
Borussia Dortmund vs Salzburg
AC Milan vs Arsenal
12.05: We’re moments away from the draw but which celebrity will be pulling the balls out of the bowls, I hear you ask?
Well, ex-Barcelona defender Eric Abidal (the Europa League’s ambassador for this season’s competition) is back.
“This competition is difficult,” Eric says. Wise words.
What were they thinking?!
11.55: Arsenal took to Twitter earlier this morning to ask their fans who they wanted to face in the last-16.
Unfortunately, it didn’t go quite as planned.
One fan said: “A new manager.”
Another supporter replied: “Wenger’s resignation!”
While a third added: “Bayern Munich”
Because that joke never gets old…
Big week
11.50: It’s a big week for Arsenal with the Carabo Cup final against Manchester City on Sunday.
Arsene Wenger believes the Wembley clash was on his players’ minds against Ostersunds in last night’s Europa League tie.
Speaking at a press conference this morning, he said: “With the cup final and having won 3-0 last week, we didn’t have the focus needed to play against any team.
“They needed four goals for us to go out last night and I always felt during the game we would respond.”
Not long until the draw – who do you want?
🇮🇹 AC Milan
🇪🇸 Athletic Bilbao
🇪🇸 Atletico Madrid
🇷🇺 CSKA Moscow
🇩🇪 Dortmund
🇺🇦 Dynamo Kyiv
🇮🇹 Lazio
🇷🇺 Lokomotiv Moscow
🇫🇷 Lyon
🇫🇷 Marseille
🇨🇿 Plzen
🇩🇪 RB Leipzig
🇦🇹 RB Salzburg
🇵🇹 Sporting
🇷🇺 Zenit pic.twitter.com/TpvoHjxSxu— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 23, 2018
11.40: Arsene Wenger has admitted his side were not at the races in the first half against Ostersunds.
A Calum Chambers own goal on 22 minutes was instantly followed by Ken Sema’s strike, which meant the Gunners went into the break in big trouble.
Sead Kolasinac scored in the second half, and Wenger said: “Yes, we were not at the races in the first half.
“I think in the second half it was much better and we should have scored a few goals. Our energy was higher, our domination was consistent and we were in control in the second half.
“In the first half we were in trouble and in danger because we were complacent, not focused and were open every time we lost the ball.
“We had no ideas with the ball and that’s why we were in trouble.
“We responded very well because we did the job to qualify, but that’s what we have to take from the night and that’s all.”
Who could Arsenal face?
11.35: It’s an open draw – none of that seeded teams nonsense – so Arsenal could face any of the other 15 sides left in the competition.
There are a number of huge clubs in the draw including AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Lazio and RB Leipzig so there are plenty of worst-case scenarios.
Marseille, Lyon, Sporting Lisbon, Dynamo Kiev, CSKA Moscow, Lokomotiv Moscow and Zenit St-Petersburg could also prove tricky.
Facing either Plzen and Salzburg would, arguably, be the best-case scenario for Arsene Wenger.
Welcome
11:30: Good morning and welcome to Express Sport’s live coverage of the Europa League last-16 draw.
The fun gets underway at midday and hopefully we won’t have to endure too much guff from UEFA!
Source:www.express.co.uk
