Champions League Last 16: Arsenal Draw Serie A Giants AC Milan

Arsenal's dubious reward for topping their Champions League group is a draw against experienced and star-studded Italian powerhouse AC Milan.

Both of the Premier League's lone remaining representatives were drawn against Serie A opposition, with Chelsea pitted against Napoli.

Arsene Wenger will also no doubt be relieved that his side won't face the prospect of a long trip to Russia in February, having avoided CSKA Moscow and Zenit St. Petersburg.

But the Gunners manager must also be ruing his luck. Having paid the price for letting the group lead slip away in last season's competition, Arsenal were forced to face the mighty Barcelona.

Winning the group this time around doesn't appear to have done Wenger's side any favours. Milan are packed with some of the biggest names in the sport.

Attacking options such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho and Pato will present a difficult challenge for the North London outfit.

Despite this being the one draw many felt the Gunners must avoid, Arsenal can go into the match with some confidence.

In the 2007/08 campaign, the Gunners knocked out then-holders Milan with a 2-0 victory on Italian soil. Despite their pedigree and strength of squad, Milan also failed to get past English opposition last season.

Tottenham Hotspur scored a 1-0 victory in Milan, which proved enough to seal the seven-time winners' fate.

Arsenal are a more experienced and resolute squad this season and Wenger has plenty of experience of the Champions League.

Arsenal's pace and energy in the midfield areas could be key to overwhelming ageing pros such as Clarence Seedorf and Mark van Bommel.

If Milan have one clear weakness, it is a defense that is nowhere near as stout as some of the fearsome back-fours that have epitomised the club's past success.

Fleet-footed duo Robin van Persie Theo Walcott should be able to pose a consistent threat over the course of the matches.

The Gunners have an excellent record against Italian opposition in this competition and have the advantage of playing the away leg first.

An away goal and no mistakes in the first game will provide Arsenal with a solid platform to progress to the last eight.