Liverpool clashes will seal fate for Arsenal

Having outplayed holders AC Milan to make today's quarter-final draw, the Arsenal manager was keen to maintain the continental theme to his club's European campaign.

"Every English team would prefer to play a foreign team," he said. "It's a bit more Europe, you know? It becomes more of a domestic competition when you play a local team."

But for Arsenal, taking on the team who have famously won the competition five times should not unduly alarm Wenger.

Liverpool's European campaign has been a mix of the dreadful - defeats to Besiktas and Marseille - and the sublime - the 3-0 aggregate win over Italian league leaders Inter Milan.

Domestically, their season has been one of turmoil on and off the pitch with their anticipated Premier League title challenge over by Christmas.

Furthermore, Anfield is the scene of one of the greatest moments in Arsenal's club's history - when Michael Thomas's late goal clinched the 1989 League championship - and another memorable night on Merseyside would see the Gunners progress.

Arsenal will play the first leg at Emirates Stadium at the start of next month and then entertain Rafael Benitez's side in the Premier League on 5 April before settling the tie at Anfield the following week.

Should the Gunners emerge victorious, the semi-final draw will not please Wenger either, with his side due to face Chelsea or Fenerbahce.

Avram Grant's side are strong favourites to progress against the Turkish champions, who have never before reached this stage of the competition.

A two-legged Arsenal-Chelsea semi-final would be a repeat the pair's Champions League quarter-final clash of 2004, which Claudio Ranieri's side won 3-2 on aggregate.

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown is, however, convinced the club have nothing to fear from today's draw.

He said: "In recent years Arsenal have done particularly well at Liverpool. If you go to Milan and get a result and performance like the one they did in the last round then I do not think anybody should concern them.

"I think it will be difficult for Liverpool to still be in the tie after the first game at Emirates Stadium."

But former Liverpool star Phil Thompson disagrees, claiming home advantage for last year's finalists in the second leg could prove decisive.

He said: "The biggest thing I wanted for Liverpool was for them to be playing the second leg at Anfield. On a big European night, there is no one they should fear."

Manchester United's pairing with Roma in the other section of the draw means an all-Premier League final in Moscow on 21 May remains a possibility.

However, Sir Alex Ferguson's team face the prospect of overcoming Barcelona in the semi-finals if they progress at the expense of old foes Roma.

Chelsea appear to have the most straightforward task of the English sides hoping to reach the last four although they will come up against a determined opponent in former striker Mateja Kezman who plays for Fenerbahce.

Victory for the Blues and defeat for Arsenal would give Chelsea the chance to avenge two previous Champions League semi-finals defeat by Liverpool - last year and in 2005.

Frank Lampard today underlined the club's determination to become the first London club to win Europe's elite competition.

He said: "We've missed out in this competition on a few occasions and we want to make the final step and get our hands on the trophy."