Arsenal to play Villarreal

Arsenal have been drawn against Villarreal in the quarter-final of the Champions League with the winners facing either Manchester United or FC Porto in the semi-final.

The two clubs met in the 2006 semi-final with the Gunners going through to face Barcelona in the final. The tie was famous for Arsenal 'keeper, Jens Lehmann's last minute penalty save to deny Juan Roman Riquelme and his team from reaching the final. Kolo Toure's goal in the first leg was enough to take Arsenal to their first Champions League final.

The first leg will be played on 7/8 April in Villarreal's stadium El Madrigal. There will be a return of Ex-Arsenal favourites Robert Pires and Pascal Cygan who will undoubtedly gain a good reception at the Emirates in the second leg due to be played on 14/15 April.

The "Yellow Submarine" finished second behind league winners Barcelona in La Liga last season and currently lie fourth.

Arsenal will have to be wary of ex-Manchester United forward Giuseppe Rossi who has scored 15 goals so far this season. The team from the region of Castellon, near Valencia, also include European Champions Marcos Senna and Santi Cazorla in their ranks.

The winners of the tie will play either Manchester United or FC Porto in the semi-final. The other semi-final will be between Barcelona or Bayern Munich and Liverpool or Chelsea

Comment: Nasri and Van Persie are vital to our success

Wenger builds great teams. The 'Invincibles' were arguably the most entertaining team in Arsenal's history. Robert Pires and Thierry Henry were almost telepathic in their understanding and Dennis Bergkamp and Freddie Ljungberg also had a chemistry on the pitch which helped to propel us to the heights which may never be seen again.

There is, however, a new double-act on the scene. Samir Nasri and Robin Van Persie have started to create an understanding shown to devestating effect against Hull at the weekend. Van Persie made three assists, including one to set up Nasri to put Arsenal in the lead in the 81st minute.

Van Persie seems to be in the run of form all Arsenal fans knew he could reach. The Dutchman has shown glimpses in the past, but injuries have always stopped him in his tracks. This season though, he has got better and better.

Samir Nasri, bought in the summer to replace Alex Hleb, has added a class and directness Arsenal were previously lacking. He is small, but difficult to knock-off the ball, and although he has been deployed on the left, he, like Pires, cuts in on his favoured right.

Nasri seems to be moving inside more than usual in Cesc Fabregas' absence which has so far produced good results.

More encouraging is the link up with Van Persie, which shows signs of being similar to that of Pires and Henry and Bergkamp and Ljungberg. If we can get Theo Walcott and Emmanuel Adebayor linking up to a similar effect, we could be onto a winner.

With rumours of Arshavin arriving, maybe Nasri will be moved inside until Fabregas is fit. With Walcott returning, a midfield of Arshavin, Nasri, Denilson and Walcott looks very interesting indeed.