2015/16 Champions League Round of 16 draw: What we learnt

UEFA Champions League 2015/16 Round of 16 draw in full.The draw for the last 16 of this season’s UEFA Champions League took place at Nyon this evening, and has thrown up some really intriguing ties. While it’s a cakewalk for Manchester City and Wolfsburg, who drew Dynamo Kiev and Gent respectively, Arsenal saw their worst nightmare come alive as they have a date with the defending champions Barcelona.Beleaguered Premier League title-holders Chelsea will renew hostilities with Paris St.Germain once again as they tussle with the French champions for the third year on the bounce, whereas Serie A representatives Juventus and Roma were given the Herculean task of exchanging blows with heavyweights Bayern Munich and Real Madrid respectively.Whilst there’s still 8 weeks until the teams go mano-a-mano, we first delve through some of the talking points the draws has produced.

#1 Arsenal staring at yet another last 16 exit

Messi has some sweet memories of Arsenal, scoring 6 times in 4 games against them.

The draw was never going to be kind enough for Arsenal, who managed to scrape through their group at the death, riding on the coat-tails of leaders Bayern. A second place finish meant a tough draw was on the cards for the Gunners yet again, and save for Zenit St.Petersburg, or even Wolfsburg, the North Londoners stared down the barrel of facing one of the top three sides from Spain- Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid or Barcelona. But merciful Zeus, they were given the toughest of the lot – the behemoths from Catalonia.

Arsene Wenger must surely have had his face buried in his hands when he saw the draw, wondering whether it was worth the heroics his side showed in getting out of their group. In 7 meetings with the Blaugrana, Arsenal have a terrible record of only 1 win and 4 defeats, and in all likelyhood, are set to bow out in the last 16 for the 6th time in a row.

Arsenal were torn apart in Munich when Bayern capitalised on their inadequacies, so what could possibly happen when the best ever attacking trident of Suarez, Messi and Neymar go head-to-head against them?

It's looking particularly ominous for the Gunners.