Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has backed his side to beat holders Real Madrid if they get paired with the Spanish outfit in Monday’s draw for the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

The Gunners advanced to the knock-out stages as group winners for the first time since 2012 after beating Basle 4-1 in Switzerland on Tuesday night.

Theoretically, topping the group gives a team an advantage as they face a side who progressed in second position.

But, despite Arsenal breaking their hoodoo, they could still land a tricky tie – with Real Madrid among the possible opponents –  as they look to get into the quarter-finals for the first time in six years.

Last season’s Europa League winners Sevilla are another possibility, along with German pair Bayern Munich and Bayer Lever-kusen and Portuguese giants Benfica and Porto.

Arsenal face Stoke City at home in the Premier League today before attention turns to the draw in Nyon and, with Wenger’s side having lost just twice in all competitions so far this season, he insists the Gunners can beat anyone.

“You look at the teams you can get, some look more prestigious, more difficult, and you would like me to say ‘I do not want this or that’,” he said.

“But that will already put us in an inferior position if it happens. Yes, you can take Real Madrid as maybe a favourite to win, because they are the holders of the competition.

“But even against Real Madrid we’ll have a chance to qualify and we’ll have to do the absolute maximum to achieve that.

“It’s another inconvenient fact for us that we haven’t qualified for the quarter-final for six years. That will be a huge challenge for my group but I’m sure we will relish that.”

The draw takes place at noon on Monday, when Wenger will be out on the training pitch with his players ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Everton in the Premier League.

And he said he will not nip away to watch as he hopes for a little bit of luck in avoiding the perceived bigger names, having landed the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich in recent years.

Asked if he would be watching, Wenger replied: “No, I prefer to be on the pitch than being nervous in front of the television.

“I don’t know who decides the luck but I haven’t found the way to speak to this person!”

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