Arsenal and AC Milan meet in Europa League last 16

Seven-times European champions AC Milan will face Arsenal in the standout last-16 tie in the Europa League after the draw was made in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday. It will be the first time the two clubs have met since Milan won 4-3 on aggregate to reach the Champions League quarter-finals in 2012 where they lost to Barcelona. Spanish favourites Atletico Madrid take on Lokomotiv Moscow while Milan's Serie A rivals Lazio will face Dinamo Kiev.

The draw's been made... https://t.co/EzSC15H5kZ

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) February 23, 2018

Borussia Dortmund, another club having to settle for Europe's secondary club competition after falling out of the Champions League, face Austria's FC Salzburg. French club Olympique Lyonnais, whose ground will host the final, play CSKA Moscow while former European champions Olympique de Marseille face Athletic Bilbao. The remaining two ties are RB Leipzig against Zenit St Petersburg and Portugal's Sporting Lisbon versus Viktoria Plzen.

So it's @acmilan in the last 16 of the Europa League

What's your reaction to the draw? pic.twitter.com/8TUO5N6RMV

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) February 23, 2018

Although Milan, playing in Europe after a three-year absence, have improved under former player Gennaro Gattuso who has taken them on an 11-match unbeaten run, they are adrift in the race for Champions League places, lying seventh in Serie A. Arsenal, who failed to qualify for the Champions League this season for the first time for 20 years, look unlikely to get back in via a top-four finish in the Premier League.

⚽️? UEFA Europa League draw ?⚽️

?️ Friday 23 February
⏰ 13.00 CET
#⃣ #UELdraw

ℹ️? https://t.co/C8k4GnKj1L pic.twitter.com/ngVm0cGomP

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) February 22, 2018

With a Champions League spot up for grabs for the Europa League winners, the clash between the two powerhouses takes on added significance. The six previous matches between the sides have seen both win twice, Arsenal prevailing 3-0 in the most recent clash at The Emirates having lost 4-0 in the San Siro in the first leg of their 2012 Champions League tie. Arsenal reached the last 16 despite losing 2-1 at home to Swedish club Ostersunds on Thursday. Milan beat Bulgarian side Ludogorets.

The Europa League last-16 draw in full...

Watch the games live on BT Sport HD on the 8th and 15th of March ? pic.twitter.com/HfN9Etbj1g

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 23, 2018