Wenger ready for all-comers

Lyon, the French champions last season, met Arsenal twice in 2000-01, with the Londoners winning away and drawing at home. Meeting one or other of the two French teams would also have the added benefit of being within realistic travelling distance for Dennis Bergkamp, whose aversion to flying would rule him out of the away leg of any ties further afield.

The two other quarter-finalists, Porto and Deportivo La Coruna, both failed to win their qualifying groups. Porto, Manchester United's conquerors, drew with Real in Madrid and finished three points behind the Spanish giants in Group H. Deportivo finished runners-up to Monaco in Group C and fans will recall that they twice beat Arsenal 2-0 in the second group stage matches in 2001-02.

"We're a more experienced team now," said Wenger today. "Maybe in the past we've been a little too anxious in the Champions League but we learned and we have good stability now. I would not make us super favourites to win the tournament with Real Madrid and AC Milan still in there. One has won nine times, the other six times and we've never won it. When you look at teams of that calibre you have to be humble.

"Even so, I think it's quite open with two Premiership teams, two French teams, two from Spain, one from Italy and one from Portugal. What's most important to me in the final weeks of the season is that we have all our players and no serious injuries."

Arsenal have won the Fairs Cup (1970) and the European Cup Winners' Cup (1994) but they have yet to be tested in the real pressure stages of the European Cup, having never been further than the quarter-final stage.

But captain Patrick Vieira is also sure Arsenal have learned their lesson from previous seasons, in particular their last appearance in the final eight three years ago, when they lost on the away goal rule against Valencia after winning 2-1 at Highbury.

At the time, the defeat prompted Vieira to call for the club to invest in more quality to prove their ambition.

Vieira is clearly satisfied that this has been done. He said: "We have 20 quality players to choose from and we have a good squad. Players come in and it is like they have been in there all the time. Everyone will want to play because we now have important games all the time.

"What is the difference from the last time we were in the quarterfinal? We have more experience. We have played in the Champions League almost every year since I came. Every year we learn from the Champions League. We went out to Valencia and didn't deserve to lose. Hopefully, we will learn from that and we can improve and go to the semi-final. We are still a long way from where we want to be. For the club to reach the quarter-finals is good but it is not good enough for us. We want to go forward."

Thierry Henry echoed those sentiment. He said: "To be in the last eight doesn't mean anything to me. The only thing that matters when you start in a tournament is to try to win it.

"Now have to keep our feet on the ground and make sure when we step out on the pitch we do everything to win the game and not just talk about it. There is an atmosphere in our team that is something special."

Bergkamp, an influential figure in last night's victory, damaged ribs and could miss Saturday's Premiership trip to Blackburn.

Last night, Arsenal stretched their winning run in the Champions League to five consecutive games, matching United's record. This is a remarkable turnaround considering their first three Champions League matches this season produced two defeats and a draw, with Lokomotiv Moscow.

The simple fact is that the quality of their football is irresistible at the moment - though last night they barely left first gear. Celta Vigo are struggling near the foot of the Spanish league and played like a team with other things on their mind.

Thierry Henry's two goals took his total in the Champions League to 31. Only Alessandro del Piero, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Raul have scored more.

By the end, with Celta reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of Pablo Contreras, Arsenal were strolling.

Celta manager Raddy Antic said: "Physically and technically they're a very well balanced team playing with a lot of confidence. "For me they are one of the big favourites for the trophy."