Champions League: Arsenal and Chelsea on drift after tough draw
Published:Arsenal and Chelsea’s hopes of Champions League glory have been dented by an extremely tough last 16 draw.
The Gunners will now face AC Milan, while Chelsea will play Napoli in the two-leg affair.
Arsene Wenger’s men were out at 18/1 to win the Champions League before the draw was made but have since drifted to 20/1.
The Gunners exited the competition at the last 16 stage last season to Barcelona having finished second in their group – and things are little better for them this year following their Group F victory.
It’s not all bad news for the north London side though and they are expected to make it through against Milan at 5/6.
The Italian side have exited the Champions League at the last 16 stage against English sides in their previous three outings in the competition.
They lost to Tottenham Hotspur last season, Manchester United dismissed them 7-2 on aggregate in 2010, while it was the Gunners themselves who knocked them out in 2008.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have a slightly easier task against Napoli and have been installed as 1/2 favourites to see off the Italians over two legs.
They won’t have things all their own way though and Napoli showed with their group win over Manchester City that they are a tough test on home soil.
Chelsea have drifted out to 14/1 from a pre-draw 12/1 to win the tournament for the first time in their history.
Elsewhere, favourites Barcelona have been given the relatively straightforward task of seeing off Bayer Leverkusen, while the much-fancied Real Madrid will play CSKA Moscow.
Champions League last 16 draw
Lyon v APOEL
Napoli v Chelsea
AC Milan v Arsenal
Basel v Bayern Munich
Bayer Leverkusen v Barcelona
CSKA Moscow v Real Madrid
Zenit St Petersburg v Benfica
Marseille v Inter Milan
