Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted to feeling frustrated after his side missed out on top spot in their Champions League group and an easier draw in the knockout stages.

The English Premier League leaders were beaten 2-0 at Napoli on Wednesday which allowed Borussia Dortmund to seal top spot courtesy of a better head-to-head record after the trio all finished on 12 points.

That meant the German side will be seeded for next week’s draw while runners-up Arsenal face the prospect of a last-16 clash against either Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich or big spending Paris St Germain.

“Of course to finish second makes the potential draw more difficult, in the last four or five years we have had very difficult draws, so maybe this time we will be more lucky,” Wenger said.

“But if you look at the teams who are potentially there, at least we know we will have a difficult draw.”

Arsenal were set for the point they needed in Naples to secure top spot before one-time transfer target Gonzalo Higuain put the Italians ahead on 73 minutes.

Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta was then sent off shortly after with Jose Callejon adding a second in stoppage time as Napoli fell one goal short of the required victory margin which would have sent them through at the expense of the Londoners.

Wenger’s relief at advancing was tempered by the realisation that winning Group F would have meant Arsenal being drawn against one of Bayer Leverkusen, Galatasaray, Olympiakos, Schalke, Zenit SP or Milan in the last 16.

“That is the frustration because you feel there was room to do better,” Wenger said.

“We will see what comes out of the draw and will assess that in February (when the first legs of the last 16 matches are played) because a lot can change on both sides,” he said.