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Arsenal given a chance of Champions League payback with Barcelona draw in the last 16
ARSENAL may have salvaged their Champions League hopes in heroic fashion, but today came the payback.
Arsene Wenger's Arsenal have been drawn against Barcelon in the last-16 of the Champions League
The Gunners were always vulnerable to a tough draw after losing three of their first four group games before winning their last two to finish second.
And yesterday's last-16 draw punished them in the most severe fashion by pairing them with the club everyone wanted to avoid - holders Barcelona.
If there was any consolation, it was that London rivals Chelsea, who finished top of their group, were paired with Paris St Germain, the strongest of the runner-ups.
But Manchester City finally got lucky. After losing to Barcelona in the first knockout round in the last two seasons they drew Dynamo Kiev, with the bonus of the away leg being played behind closed doors as punishment for previous crowd disturbances and racist behaviour among Dynamo supporters.