Real Madrid happy with their Champions League draw after being paired with Arsenal in the last 16.

Real Arsenal’s lack of experience in the knockout stages of the competition and their style of play make them ideal opponents at this stage of the competition.

“We are satisfied with the draw,” Real’s director of football Arrigo Sacchi told the club’s website.

“It’s obvious that any of the five teams we could have drawn would have been hard, because they all finished top of their groups.

“But we are up against the side with the least experience in Europe and that could show.”

It will be the first competitive meeting between the clubs with the first leg at the Bernabeu on February 21 and the return at Highbury on March 8.

“They have the advantage of playing the second leg at Highbury, but if we can beat them two or three nil here it won’t be such an advantage,” added Sacchi.

Centre back Ivan Helguera said Arsenal’s style suited Real better than some of the other teams they could have met.

“Every team in the draw is tough and I would be lying to say that playing Arsenal will be easy,” he said.

“It will be a difficult tie, but at least they are the sort of team that let you play and we’ve always done well against English sides.”

David Beckham, who will play for Real for the first time in England, predicted a difficult encounter for Real.

“It will be the first time that I will have played in England for Real Madrid and it will be a really great experience,” he said.

“We are going to have to get past a good team with some great players. They’ve got Arsene Wenger who is an excellent person and a great manager and has done a fantastic job in charge of Arsenal.

“They’ll have a lot of support from their fans and their players will be boosted by that, but we are Real Madrid and we should remember that because it is going to be a very hard match.”

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