footballworld

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he was not concerned by the prospect of possibly facing Barcelona in the next round of the Champions League.The Gunners may also face Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Schalke in the last 16 after finishing second in Group H. "Barcelona is a super favourite in this competition at the moment but we take what we get," said the Frenchman after a 3-1 win over Partizan Belgrade. "If it's Barcelona, it is Barcelona. We played them last year. We will see." Last season, Barcelona knocked Arsenal out of the competition at the quarter-final stage, and although the 2009 Champions League winners are seen as the team to avoid, Wenger knows his side will have to be in good shape whichever team they face.

"Last year we went out against Barcelona," said Wenger. "I felt we had some room to do better because we drew 2-2 at home and over there we led 1-0 but lost 4-1."It depends whether you will have your best players available and a good level of confidence. "It's very difficult to predict how far you can go but now in the last 16 it becomes a cup competition. You go into cup mode and that means for 180 minutes you have to be at your top." The draw for the Champions League knockout stages will take place on Friday 17 December and Wenger added: "We have a 50% chance to travel to Spain and 50% chance to go to Germany. "If you ask me where we would like to go, I don't know. For the media they would maybe prefer Spain, but for us not necessarily."

The victory over Partizan confirmed Arsenal's place in the last 16 for the 11th successive season, but the Gunners were not at their best and endured some nervous moments before two goals in the last 20 minutes secured their passage. They took the lead through a Robin van Persie penalty and, after conceding an equaliser when Cleo's shot was deflected past keeper Lukasz Fabianski, it took goals from Theo Walcott and Samir Nasri to ease their anxiety. Wenger is aware his players will have to improve on that performance but, based on their position in all competitions this season, he has faith that they will. "Overall, we are in a strong position in the league, have qualified for the next stage of the Champions League, are in the semi-final of the League Cup and start the FA Cup in January," he said. "We have plenty of exciting challenges in front of us but there is room for improvement and I'm confident we will."

Arsenal's progression was tempered by left-back Kieran Gibbs being forced off with an ankle injury after 23 minutes against the Serbian side and a scan on Thursday will determine the extent of the damage. "He has a twisted ankle, an ankle sprain," said Wenger. "I don't know how damaged his ankle is - he will have a scan on Thursday. He is unbelievably unlucky." Arsenal will be without Bacary Sagna for the first game of their last-16 tie in February after the right-back was sent off towards the end of the game at the Emirates.

Manchester United striker Federico Macheda scored a late penalty as England's injury-hit Under-21 side suffered a friendly defeat by Italy.Italy started well, Gianvito Misuraca forcing Frank Fielding into a low save. Josh McEachran's fine pass set up Scott Sinclair for England's best chance but he shot at the keeper when one-on-one. With two minutes to go Ben Mee was sent off for tripping Niccolo Giannetti and Macheda, on loan at Sampdoria, coolly slotted his penalty into the corner. The friendly in Empoli was an early opportunity for manager Stuart Pearce to cast his eye over players ahead of the Under-21 European Championships in Denmark this summer. However, the former Manchester City manager's options were severely limited with nine withdrawals from his squad, including five injured defenders in Martin Kelly, Kieran Gibbs, Micah Richards, Chris Smalling and James Tomkins, while Kyle Walker was promoted to the senior squad.

Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson, Bolton Wanderers' on-loan striker Daniel Sturridge and Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph had also previously withdrawn from the group. The missing players gave Chelsea midfielder Josh McEachran, who has played 14 times for the Stamford Bridge outfit this season, the opportunity to feature for the Under-21 side for the second time. And the 17-year-old impressed with a neat passing game which was at the heart of England's most promising moves. Middleborough full-back Joe Bennett also came into the side for his Under-21 debut and he too showed quick feet and enthusiasm as England battled against a defensive and at times route one, Italian side.With little between the two teams in the opening 10 minutes, Pearce's options were further reduced when Everton's Jack Rodwell limped off and was replaced by Chelsea's Jack Cork at centre-back. The substitution almost led to the first goal for Italy when Vicenza striker Misuraca capitalized on confusion in the England backline and beat the offside trap before driving his effort low from the edge of the box, but a fine reflex save from Blackburn keeper Fielding kept the score level.

England, who were runners-up to Germany in Euro 2009, currently lead the European rankings and had hoped to put in a more convincing performance against a side who have not qualified for this summer's European Championships. Pearce sent on a trio of debutants in the second half in an attempt to liven up the game with Southampton's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is considered one of the hottest prospects in English football and has been linked with Arsenal and Manchester United, coming into the fray, along with Burnley's Jay Rodriguez and Leeds midfielder Jonathan Howson. The changes had the desired effect with Oxlade-Chamberlain showing a great turn of pace to create one of England's better chances as he breezed past his full-back and hit the byline, but no England player could tap in the cross from six yards. A delightful diagonal ball from McEachran teed up Oxlade-Chamberlain on the edge of the box as England looked to hit Italy on the counter attack but the 17-year-old side-footed a tame effort straight into the arms of Carlo Pinsoglio. England continued to dominate possession and with eight minutes to go finally made the Italian goalkeeper work.

A wonderful 40-yard pass by McEachran split the Italy centre-backs and put substitute Sinclair through one-on-one with Carlo Pinsoglio but the Swansea winger fired his effort straight at the goalkeeper. Sinclair almost made amends seconds later but his powerful effort from 18-yards was tipped around the post by Pinsoglio. Despite their dominance, England were hit by a sucker punch two minutes from time when Mee tripped Juventus striker Giannetti and Macheda nonchalantly slipped his penalty into the corner, handing Pearce only his sixth defeat in 44 matches in charge of the Under-21 side.