Champions League

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger: 'We would have a chance against Real Madrid'

By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter | 08 December 2016

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists that the team will "relish" their last-16 clash in the Champions League, with Real Madrid in the hat to face them.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has insisted that his team will "relish" their last-16 Champions League tie regardless of who they draw in the next round.

The Gunners reached the knockout phase of the competition by finishing at the top of Group A with a 6-1 triumph over Basel on Wednesday evening.

Arsenal were helped along by Ludogorets Razgrad, who restricted Paris Saint-Germain to a 2-2 draw, but they could potentially face Spanish giants Real Madrid in the last-16 stage.

Zinedine Zidane's side were on course to top their group as they led 2-0 in their clash against Borussia Dortmund, but their German opponents fought back to draw and push Madrid down to second.

"You look at the teams we can get, some look more prestigious, more difficult, and you would like me to say 'I don't want this team or that team' but that would put us already in an inferior position if it happens," Wenger told reporters in Thursday's press conference.

"You can take Real Madrid, one of the favourites to win the competition, even against them we will have a chance of qualifying. Another inconvenient fact for us, we have not qualified for the last six years for the quarter-finals. That will be a huge challenge for my group and they will relish that."

Meanwhile, Wenger has suggested that Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez could run down their contracts as negotiations over fresh terms continue.