Arsene Wenger must be licking his lips with glee after such a favourable Champions League draw this afternoon. From a choice of Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Monaco, Barcelona, and Porto, only Porto could fall into the same perceived "easy" draw outcome, and even then Porto scored the same amount of goals as Real and Bayern in this year's group stages.
Monaco however, were the team with the lowest points tally to top their group with 11, two less than Arsenal procured with their own second place result. In fact, Monaco managed only four goals in total from their six games in qualifying for the knock out stages; Arsenal have scored four in both of their last two matches. While much can change in the time before 16/17th of February when the first legs are played, on current form and expectation everyone at the Emirates must be oozing with optimism.
On Saturday the Arsenal who played Newcastle were short of 11 players who were injured, and still mustered a relatively painless win against a side who were flying in terms of results. That's a full team missing! One recognised center back played, while club captain Mikel Arteta and talismans Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey were confined to the injury table, not to mention the continued absence of Arsenal's record signing Mesut Ozil. All of these players should be fit when the Round of 16 comes calling, making Arsenal look a rather more formidable prospect for any team to be drawn against.
Monaco will be no pushovers but in a world where Wenger and his men threw away the chance to top their group due to their capitulation against Anderlecht, and consequently left themselves open to facing the German behemoth Bayern, or a Ronaldo inspired Real, or indeed a Messi inspired Barcelona, then a visit to the Mediterranean Principality nestled within a French embrace on the coast will feel far more welcoming than the aforementioned alternatives.
Arsene himself already has happy memories of Monaco, having won the league there as a manager in 1988. With this draw, there is every chance that with a fully fit Arsenal squad, he can create a few more for his current club and fans.
Source: DSG
