It's Barcelona again for Arsenal in Champions League

Today's draw at UEFA's HQ in Nyon was also tough on Tottenham as they were handed a tie with seven-time European champions AC Milan.

Arsenal paid the ultimate price for failing to win their group after being drawn against the side who are favourites to win the competition for the fourth time.

Barcelona knocked Arsenal out in last season's quarter-final 6-3 on aggregate after Lionel Messi produced a masterclass in the second leg at the Nou Camp, scoring four times in a 4-1 win.

The Gunners have not beaten Barca in their five meetings, losing three and drawing twice, including the 2006 final, which the Catalans won 2-1.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: "Revenge is not on my mind. We want to qualify and we want to knock them out. So is it difficult? Yes. Is it possible? Yes. Barcelona are certainly the favourites [for the competition] and a famous team but they did not want us either because they know they will get a game. I think we are better than last year and we have a good opportunity to show that.

"The best way of going into that game with confidence is down to what we do from today until then. If we do well in the League, the FA Cup and the Carling Cup that will give us the best chance of knocking them out."

Although Spurs topped their group they will take on Serie A leaders AC Milan, who finished second to Real Madrid in their section.

However, playing in the San Siro won't daunt Harry Redknapp's side as they lost a thriller 4-3 to Inter in October, when Gareth Bale scored an incredible hat-trick.

Spurs boss Redknapp said: "It's a great draw, an exciting game and one to look forward to. They have some real quality in their side, some fantastic players. I said before the draw I wouldn't mind playing them because you want games like that, you want to play against the best."

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri claimed that Spurs were "in theory" one of the easier draws for the Italians. He said: "Tottenham are probably a very good team but among the possible rivals we could have faced, they are in theory one of the less difficult sides.

"But all the sides that have made it to the knockout round are nevertheless strong teams."

Chelsea, on their worst run of form for a decade, received a boost as they were given an eminently winnable tie against Danish side FC Copenhagen.

Despite being paired with the team widely regarded as the weakest left in the competition, Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay is urging caution.

"There are no easy games at this stage and we will be very careful," he said. "They have played 10 games so far in the Champions League with qualifying, and were second to Barcelona, so they're a very, very good side and well clear in their domestic league going into the break. It's not far to travel and we'll be happy."

The 1-1 draw with Tottenham on Sunday means the Blues have won just once in their last seven games.

Gourlay, though, is optimistic for the rest of the season and said: "Last week the signs were there that we are picking up again and we've got some of our key players back, which is very important to us.

"Things had been going very well, confidence was high and then we lost three or four of our key players and hit some bad results."

Manchester United, who conceded only one goal in the group stage, were paired with Marseille as the sides look to take a step closer to the final at Wembley on 28 May.