Champions League Draw: Arsenal Draw Liverpool

Arsenal failed to avoid Premier League opposition by drawing last year's finalists Liverpool in the Champions League Quarterfinal Draw. The mouthwatering all-English tie is the most competitive of the quarterfinals.

The draw means that Arsenal face a tough three weeks, their next six fixtures looking particularly daunting. In addition to facing Liverpool three times in one week, Arsenal will face off against Chelsea and Manchester United in the next three weeks. The Gunners next six games look like this: at Chelsea, at Bolton, Liverpool, Liverpool, at Liverpool, at Manchester United.

Even with the returns of Kolo Toure and Robin van Persie, Arsenal will have a tough time keeping their squad fit during such an important series of games, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger may even resort to rotating some of his key players.

Nonetheless, Wenger believes that his team have what it takes to knock Liverpool out of the Champions League, citing the fact that they have already knocked out holders AC Milan.

"Let's give our best," said the manager, "We showed against Milan that when we are at our best we can beat anyone. We just knocked Milan out, who were the holders. That was a big hurdle.

"Now we have the finalists on our route - so why can't we do it again?"

Arsenal fans will be happy to have avoided Premier League title rivals Manchester United and Chelsea, but disappointed not to have drawn foreign opposition. The Gunners are likely to face Chelsea in the next round, as the Blues drew Fenerbahce in the same half of the draw as Arsenal. If Manchester United can beat Roma and the winners of Barcelona and Schalke 04, Arsenal may play English teams for the remaining rounds of the competition.

The full quarterfinal draw:
AS Roma vs. Manchester United
Schalke 04 vs. Barcelona
Arsenal vs. Liverpool
Fenerbahce vs. Chelsea

Semifinals:
Roma/Manchester United vs. Schalke/Barcelona
Arsenal/Liverpool vs. Fenerbahce/Chelsea

Gunners Trial Congo Striker Mputu

Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger is set to offer Congo striker Tresor Mputu a 10 day trial with the North London giants.

The 21 year-old forward currently plays for TP Mazembe in the Congo, but with interest from teams across Europe, it seems like he will be leaving Africa soon.

Salomon Idi Kalonda, director of Mputu's current club, has gone public on the trial.

"We've received an invitation from Arsenal for Mputu," he told News of the World.

"Talks began a long time ago but we didn't want to say anything before an agreement was reached.

"We ruled out a number of clubs before choosing Arsenal."

The fact that Mputu chose to trial at Arsenal comes as a great success for the club, especially considering the promise that the youngster shows.

Former Cameroon coach Claude le Roy, a man famous for his 'discovery' of Samuel Eto'o, has stated that Tresor Mputu is better than the Cameroonian Barcelona legend.

The reported price of £500,000 could become the crown jewel in Arsene Wenger's already impressive crown if Mputu were to become as great as Eto'o.

Fabregas: I will stay at Arsenal

Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas rubbished rumors of a move away from Ashburton Grove despite having visited Barcelona last Wednesday.

The player, who started his career at the Barcelona youth academy, has been heavily linked with a move back to the Camp Nou. He was rested for Arsenal's 0-0 draw with Slavia Prague, but surprised many by spending his break with Alex Hleb in Barcelona, watching the Spanish giants defeat Rangers, courtesy of a goal from former Arsenal talisman Thierry Henry.

Arsene Wenger was the first person to play down the Barcelona link, completely dismissing the reports.

"This is no story," he said. "Fabregas is under contract with us. If Barcelona want to buy any player under contract then I’ll give them my phone number. But I think they have it because they just bought Thierry Henry."

When asked if he would consider an offer, the reply was simple: "No chance."

But there's only so much a coach can do to keep a player at a club, and Cesc Fabregas had always said that he would move back to Spain at some point in his career. For the first time though, he has now stated that he would consider spending the rest of his career with Arsenal.

"When I first came to England I always thought I would return to Spain one day," he said.

"But the truth is that the longer I'm here, the more I like it. I love the city, the club, the people. Every day I get to know more people, I feel closer to the fans and to the team.

"To tell the truth, I feel I will stay here for a long time, even for my whole career.

"I don't know which league is better as I haven't had the opportunity to play in Spain.

"But I feel closer to the Premier League because it's very passionate, fast, direct and vibrant and it's the football that I like. Sometimes I watch Spanish league games and they don't do anything for me."

This is great news for an Arsenal side that has already lost Thierry Henry and Freddy Ljungberg. Fabregas has scored 11 goals this season, and at only 20 years of age, he still has time on his side.

Imagine, if he's already this good now, how amazing he'll be when he peaks at 27 or 28... let's just hope he'll still be at Arsenal in that time.

Barca Won't Overpay For Arsenal's Fabregas

Barcelona director of football Txiki Begiristain has stated that the Catalan giants won't break the bank for Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas.

The Spanish sensation has been one of the most influential players at Arsenal over the past few seasons, marshaling the midfield at the tender age of 20. Fabregas had never kept it a secret that he would like to return to Spain at some time in his career, but it now seems as though he may have to wait seven years for his contract to expire.

"He is a great player but the circumstances of his exit make things very difficult," said.

"We cannot pay a great amount for a homegrown player that decided to leave us.”

Arsene Wenger's club only paid Barcelona £700,000 of compensation for the young midfielder , as he left Barcelona at 16 years of age, before players are allowed to become professionals in Spain.

Barcelona have made it clear that they will not chase after the coveted Arsenal star, with Begiristain adding:

"To start with he would have to show his desire to return."

This is great news to Arsenal fans, as Fabregas is integral to our team's success. If I were to choose one player at Arsenal who could not be replaced, it would without a doubt be Cesc Fabregas. We may have a talented roster of midfielders but the majestic way in which Cesc controls the game can be equaled by none.

Arsenal would be sure to command a huge transfer fee from such a talented young player, but no amount of money would be worth losing Cesc's genius.

Let us hope that Barca stay true to their word, and Cesc stays true to his club. I could see the boy playing at Arsenal for another ten or fifteen years, and I can only hope that he will stay at the club for that long.