Destiny calls for Thierry Henry and Cesc Fabregas

The quarter final draw of the Champions League has been made, with Arsenal and Manchester United both handed rematches against teams they have previously played in the final. And the possibility of an all-English final is still on the cards.

In the Champions League, the Gunners must face tournament favourites Barcelona, who beat them in the 2006 final. Bayern Munich play Manchester United and will be hoping for revenge, 11 years after their famous capitulation in the dying moments of the 1999 final.

In the Europa League, Fulham drew Wolfsburg and Liverpool were given a tie against Benfica.

Arsenal's showdown with Barcelona is the one that catches the eye - it will be pretty to watch, but for football purists the clash between the two clubs has come far too soon. Having to lose one of, arguably, the two best footballing sides left in the competition at the quarter final stage seems unfair.

The draw is particularly awkward for Thierry Henry, who must face the club he represented for eight years. He is in a similar position to the one AC Milan's David Beckham found himself in the last round.

Like Becks, Henry is a self proclaimed fan of his opponents and he spent a similarly long time in their team. Beckham represented Manchester United 394 times, Henry made 370 appearances for the Gunners.

It's not as if Henry hadn't contemplated the possibility of facing his old club. "I'll be an Arsenal fan until I die and, if you ask me how if feel about the possibility that Arsenal might meet Barcelona in the Champions League, I have to say that I find the idea unthinkable," he said last week, before adding, rather unfortunately: "I pray for it not to happen."

Then there is also the small matter of Cesc Fabregas's future. The Arsenal captain left Barcelona for Highbury at the age of 16, but now the Catalans want him back. The player is said to be frustrated by Arsenal's lack of success, and if they fail to win a trophy again this season he could well be off to the Camp Nou.

That puts him in the rather odd position of playing for his Arsenal future against the team he may well join should they win. It may leave young Cesc feeling a trifle conflicted, but it should serve to concentrate the minds of Arsene Wenger and the rest of the Arsenal squad.

Whoever wins through will face Inter Milan or CSKA Moscow in the semi final.

Manchester United are in what seems to be the easier half of the draw. If they make the semi they will face one of the two French teams, Lyon and Bordeaux, who unfortunately have to play-off in the quarter finals.

To get there United will have to overcome the 1999 finalists Bayern Munich. The Germans have no personnel remaining from that night in Barcelona, when United scored twice in injury time to win the cup having been 1-0 down for most of the game, but the memory lives on for their fans.

By contrast, two players who represented United that evening could turn out - Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville. Paul Scholes missed the final through suspension, and Wes Brown was on the bench.

Louis Van Gaal has turned Bayern into an impressive unit and they have two of the best wingers in the world in Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, so they will be no pushovers.

In the Europa League, Fulham, the conquerors of Juventus and Shaktar Donetsk have drawn German champions Wolfsburg. They will face either Hamburg or Standard Liege should they make the semi-final.

Liverpool face Portuguese side Benfica, with the prospect of a semi final against Valencia or Atletico Madrid should they win.

Champions League quarter final draw:

Lyon v Bordeaux
Bayern Munich v Manchester United Arsenal v Barcelona
Inter Milan v CSKA Moscow

Semi final draw:

Inter Milan/CSKA Moscow v Arsenal/Barcelona
Bayern Munich/Manchester United v Lyon/Bordeaux

Europa League quarter final draw:Fulham v Wolfsburg
Hamburg v Standard Liege
Valencia v Atletico Madrid
Benfica v LiverpoolSemi final draw:
Fulham/Wolfsburg v Hamburg/Standard Liege
Valencia/Atletico Madrid v Liverpool/Benfica ·