Čech hope for Arsenal against Messi and Barça

• First leg: Arsenal v Barcelona, Tuesday 23 February (20.45CET)
• Second leg: Barcelona v Arsenal, Wednesday 16 March (20.45CET)
  

Robert Fernández, Barcelona technical secretary 
The tie is going to be open and very tough; they have a very good team, magnificent players and play good football. We're going to have fun. We have to be very sharp in the first leg and it is vital to get a good result there. Their philosophy is similar to ours.

Analysis

• Barcelona overcame Arsenal in the 2009/10 quarter-finals and 2010/11 round of 16 as well as the 2006 UEFA Champions League final at the Stade de France.
• In 2009/10 Arsenal came from 2-0 down to salvage a 2-2 draw in the home first leg, but Lionel Messi's four goals in the Camp Nou return helped Barça win 4-1 on the night and 6-3 overall.
• In the 2010/11 last 16, Arsenal eked out a 2-1 first-leg victory in north London but went down 3-1 in Spain.
• In 2006 Sol Campbell headed Arsenal in front at the Stade de France in the 37th minute despite goalkeeper Jens Lehmann becoming the first player to be sent off in a European Cup final. Late strikes from Samuel Eto'o and Juliano Belletti took the trophy to Barcelona.
• Messi has netted six in four games against the Gunners: four in the 2010 quarter-final second leg and two more in the 2011 round of 16 second leg.
• However, Messi has never beaten Petr Čech in six matches against the former Chelsea goalkeeper.

• Barça also came out on top against Arsenal in the 1999/2000 first group stage, following up a 1-1 draw in Spain with a 4-2 away success in which current coach Luis Enrique scored the second.
• Arsenal have lost in the round of 16 for the past five seasons. Barcelona last failed to reach the quarter-finals in 2006/07.
• Arsène Wenger is the first coach to get past the group stage 16 times, while Barcelona are the first team to go through a group unbeaten ten times.
• The tie means a return to Barcelona for Alexis Sánchez and former La Masia trainee Héctor Bellerín.