Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger faces a nostalgic trip to Monaco in the last 16 of the Champions League after the Gunners were handed a tie with the club where he launched his managerial career.
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After having mixed fortunes in charge of Nancy, Wenger made his name with the Principality club, winning the Ligue 1 title in 1988 and also the 1991 Coupe de France.
Asked about the prospect of facing Monaco ahead of the draw, Wenger said: “I’m not against it at all.
“It would be a visit to my first home. Of course I would love to go there.
“I have great memories from my time there. They gave me a chance when I was a very young manager.”
The tie also represents a much more realistic chance of progress for the Gunners, who have been knocked out in the last 16 by Bayern Munich for the past two seasons.
Club secretary David Miles added: “We’ve picked some of the biggest teams in Europe over the last five years but we’re certainly not taking anything for granted, Monaco have earned the right to be here.
“It’s the first time we’ve played Monaco in a competitive match so I’m sure Arsene will be delighted at going back to one of his former teams.”
Chelsea, meanwhile, were handed another blockbuster tie with Paris Saint-Germain – the team they knocked out in last year’s
quarter-final.
The tie is given extra spice by the presence of David Luiz in the French side’s defence following his summer transfer from Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea secretary David Barnard said: “PSG are known to us as we played them in the quarters last year and they’ve got David Luiz playing for them too.
“Both sides have very different squads from last year, so if it was PSG or anyone else, it would’ve been the same.”
PSG’s Qatari president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said his club had to learn from last season’s exit at the hands of the Blues.
He said: “Last year was an apprenticeship which must not be repeated. Chelsea are a good draw for us. I am very confident. I’ve got confidence in my manager and in my players that they’ll show on the pitch the best of PSG.”
