Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said he would like to see his side be drawn against either Manchester United or Chelsea in the next round of the Champions League.

The Gunners (8/1 to win the Champions League) booked their place in the quarter-finals of the competition with a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Porto at the Emirates Stadium o Tuesday night, comfortably overturning the 2-1 deficit from the first leg.

Even without Cesc Fabregas Arsenal were in complete control right from the off with a Nicklas Bendtner hat-trick and one each for Emmanuel Eboue and Samir Nasri making sure  they reach the last eight stage for the third season running.

Wenger has now set his sights on meeting Manchester United (8/13 to beat AC Milan in the 90 minutes betting) or Chelsea in the next round of the competition.

Despite having lost to both home and away in the league this season Wenger believes it would be good for his young side to face one of the two English teams in the next round.

“I have a funny feeling, maybe it’s good for us to play an English team,” said the Frenchman.

“We have not done well against Chelsea and not done well against Man Utd this year and it would be a good opportunity to show that we can do it against them.”

The omens would not be good for the Gunners if they were to draw United (11/8 to win the Premier League) or Chelsea (6/4) having lost to both sides the last time they meet in European competition.

However, there is no guarantee Arsenal will be drawn against a British club with United still having to see off AC Milan on Wednesday night while the Blues have to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg against Inter.

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Arsene Wenger has confirmed Cesc Fabregas will not play when Arsenal take on Porto in the Champions League (Arsenal 4/7, Porto 4/1, draw 13/5 90 Minutes) on Tuesday evening.

The Gunners boss had hoped the Spanish star would be able to feature in the game as his side aim to overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit at the Emirates Stadium.

However Wenger revealed that the recurrence of the hamstring injury which Fabregas picked up against Burnley on Saturday will keep him out against the Portuguese side as he does not want to risk making the problem worse for the Premier League (Arsenal 13/5 Premier League Outright) push.

“Cesc has a hamstring problem and we could not even take a gamble with him,” said Wenger. “I was hoping he would recover after the Burnley game because we were cautious with him.

“We don’t know how long he will be out. He is having a scan today and we are convinced it will only be a small time, and he has a small chance of getting back for next weekend against Hull, but to play him again would mean significant damage.”

Meanwhile Alex Song is available after serving a two-match ban while midfield duo Andrey Arshavin and Abou Diaby, who came off the bench at the weekend, could start.

William Gallas is again expected to miss out with a calf injury.

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Arsenal struck with two late goals to close the gap on Premier League leaders Chelsea to just three points after a 3-1 success at Stoke, although the win came at a cost as Aaron Ramsey suffered a horrific leg injury.

The Gunners (now 11/4 to win the title) had to come from behind after Danny Pugh’s eighth-minute header from Rory Delap’s throw in, but Nicklas Bendtner levelled matters before half-time.

Midway through the second period, Ramsay suffered his injury for which Ryan Shawcross was sent off although the visitors left it late before making the extra man count.

Cesc Fabregas converted a last minute penalty after Bendtner’s through-ball struck Pugh’s arm before Thomas Vermaelen scored four minutes into stoppage time to seal the victory.

The result means there is a genuine three-horse title race following nine-man Chelsea’s 4-2 defeat at home to Manchester City earlier in the day, with the gap now down to three points.

Roberto Manccini’s men came-from-behind to inflict the league leaders’ first home defeat of the season, with Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy scoring twice for the Citizens and Frank Lampard bagging two for the Blues.

Juliano Belletti and Michael Ballack saw red for the home side who failed to extend their advantage over Manchester United - in action in the Carling Cup final on Sunday.

City (8/11 to win the Premier League W/O Big 4) meanwhile have of course strengthened their grip on a top-four place, pulling three points clear of Tottenham (3/1) and four ahead of Liverpool and Aston Villa (3/1), although Martin O’Neill’s men do have a game in hand.

Sir Alex Ferguson, Carlo Ancelotti and Arsene Wenger all believe there will be more twists and turns in the Premier League title race after another dramatic weekend for the top three (totesport’s latest title odds: Chelsea 1/2, United 13/5, Arsenal 6/1).

United slipped to a poor 3-1 defeat at Everton early on Saturday before Chelsea and Arsenal both ran out 2-0 winners over Wolves and Sunderland respectively.

Chelsea now hold a four-point advantage over United, who in turn lead the Gunners by two points as the 2010 title race intensifies.

However, with Chelsea and Manchester United still to face each other once more this season, all three managers are expecting plenty of twists – and dropped points – in what’s left of the campaign.

“We hope other teams drop points and that’s the way it’s been going this season. Hopefully it turns out right again,” Fergie said after the Goodison Park reverse.

Wenger, meanwhile insists Arsenal are still in with a shout of winning the League following their win over the Black Cats and echoed the United boss’ thoughts.

“Everton have beaten Chelsea and Manchester United and there are plenty of teams where you can drop points,” he said.

Ancelotti is also convinced there is a long way to go yet after watching Didier Drogba inspire his side at Wolves.

The Italian coach said: “There will be a lot of games between now and the end of the season, and nothing is decided at this moment. There are still a lot of points to play for.”

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Arsene Wenger says he is concentrating on the players available to him after revealing William Gallas, Andrey Arshavin, Eduardo, Manuel Almunia and Alex Song will all miss the first leg of the Gunners Champions League tie against Porto (7/5 to beat Arsenal in the 90 minute betting) on Wednesday night.

The north London club are already without Robin van Persie, Kieran Gibbs and Johan Djourou with Wenger now losing five more players as his bad luck with injuries continues.

Arshavin and Eduardo are both out with hamstring injuries while Song has a knee problem and Gallas continues to struggle with a niggling back injury.

The injuries mean the spot light will be on Sol Campbell (9/1 to score anytime), as he looks set to partner Thomas Vermaelen at the back, and Nicklas Bendtner (2/1) who will lead the line for the Gunners.

Samir Nasri and Thomas Rosickyare poised to join Bendtner in attack with Arsenal (4/9 to qualify for the quarter-finals) short of forward options.

With Porto (50/1 to be Champions League winners) undefeated in the league at the Estádio do Dragão and the Gunners (10/1) having lost on their last two visit to the stadium Wenger knows his side could have a tough night ahead of them.

“Well ideally you wanted them there but I believe it is part of being in this competition, you focus on the players who play and not on those who don’t play,” said Wenger.

“The real question is can you make a good result with all the players who don’t go to Portugal and I am convinced yes, so let’s focus on the players who play.”

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Arsenal will be looking for a positive result in Porto on Wednesday night – but will have to achieve it without influential playmaker Andrey Arshavin, who has been ruled out with a hamstring injury (Porto 6/4, Arsenal 6/4, the draw 11/5 on totesport).

Arshavin picked up the strain in last week’s 1-0 win over Liverpool and will not be making the trip to Portugal as the Gunners eye a first-leg win before the Emirates return in a fortnight.

The Russian star is expected to be back for the weekend clash with Sunderland as Arsene Wenger’s men hope to keep up their outside chances of a fabulous Champions League and Premier League double this season (9/1 to win the Champions League and 8/1 to win the domestic title with totesport).

Defender Thomas Vermaelen, meanwhile, is expected to continue in the Gunners back-line despite his ongoing leg problem.

Vermaelen said: “We could see then that there was a big bruise on the bone, and that’s all. So it is painful but that can be controlled with medicine and when it is not broken, you can’t do too much wrong.

“It is not a big problem to play - yes it is still there and will take some time to go away, but it is not dangerous.”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes the Gunners will not find it easy against Porto (2/1 to qualify for the next round) in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The north London outfit travel to the Estadio do Dragao having not won on either of their previous visits and with the home side having not lost their in the league all season.

While Chelsea (4/1 to be outright winners of the Champions League) and Manchester United (15/2) both won at Porto (50/1) last year Arsenal (8/1) know they will be up against when they face the 2004 European Champions.

Their task hasn’t been made any easier by an injury to Andrey Arshavin who picked up a hamstring problem during the game against Liverpool (7/1 to win the Europa League) on Wednesday and will now miss the trip to Portugal.

Alex Song and Eduardo are also doubtful for the game and with Robin van Persie already sidelined the Gunners options will be stretched thin again.

While Wenger acknowledges that his side may been seen as favourites he insists he won’t be taking anything for granted.

“From the outside, sometimes you are seen as favourites, but that does not matter,” the Frenchman said.

“Porto have been consistently in the Champions League and you know you will get a tough game, so I will not be surprised.”

While Wenger will want his side to take something from Wednesday’s game he will be well aware that Porto’s (6/4 to win in the match betting) form away from home is less than impressive with Arsenal (6/4) having beaten them 4-0 the last time they met at the Emirates Stadium.

Skipper Steven Gerrard has urged his Liverpool side (5/2 for the win) to build on the Merseyside derby win over Everton when they travel to Arsenal (10/11) on Wednesday night.

The Reds ended the Blues’ recent good run in the Premier League thanks to Dirk Kuyt’s only goal of the game on Saturday and they will now be looking for a repeat at the Emirates.

The Gunners’ own solid form has come undone in the last couple of weeks following losses to Manchester United and Chelsea, but Gerrard is refusing to get too carried away as he looks to hang on to at least fourth place in the table.

The England star told the Echo: “You always enjoy beating your local rivals but it was the way we did it that was really satisfying, particularly after losing a man after half an hour.

“Now we have got to take that high into the next game. It’s a tough one, Arsenal away always is.

“But we have used beating Everton as a platform in the past and we’ve got to do it again. We want to extend our run and go on to better things.”

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Arsene Wenger has admitted every game between now and the end of the season is “vital” for Premier League title-chasers Arsenal (Arsenal 16/1 Premier League - Outright).

Didier Drogba scored twice on Sunday at Stamford Bridge to complete a 2-0 win for Chelsea and take his tally for the season to 22 - and 12 in 12 against the Gunners.

The defeat – off the back of their 3-1 humbling by champions Manchester United last weekend – means the north Londoners have now lost six Premier League games and are nine points adrift of leaders Chelsea.

Next up is another difficult fixture on Wednesday against in-form Liverpool (Arsenal 10/11 draw 9/4 Liverpool 5/2 Premier League match betting) but Wenger has promised his players will fight until the end.

“We are not in the best of positions but we will not give up,” said the Frenchman.

“It is vital against Liverpool but it was vital today and we still have lost.”

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Spurs boss Harry Redknapp insists Arsenal’s stranglehold on third place in the Premier League is by no means guaranteed this season.

Chelsea and Manchester United are widely expected to challenge for the title with the Gunners off the pace in third, but Redknapp says it is by no means a foregone conclusion.

It could be a pivotal weekend in the Premier League with Liverpool entertaining Everton in the 213th Merseyside derby, Arsenal travelling to Chelsea and Aston Villa (7/2 Premier League Winners Without Big Four) making the trip to Tottenham (3/1) on Saturday evening.

And Redknapp reasoned: “It is going to be tight.

“If we would have beaten Birmingham last week when leading 1-0, and we should have had the game over, then we are suddenly not so far away from Arsenal.

“Someone could get third spot. Manchester City could. We could. Liverpool could. Anyone is capable with a run. Arsenal are not 100% sure to be there if they get beaten by Chelsea and other teams pick up good results.

“Arsenal are favourites but it is not impossible for anyone to catch them, there could be a five or six-point turnaround. We thought that Chelsea were running away with it, but now look at it. Wide open again.”