Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes the club's draw with Serie A champions AC Milan for the last-16 of the Champions League is a difficult but exciting prospect.

The Gunners have done well recently to claw themselves back to fifth place in the Premier League despite a poor start to the season.

However, Wenger feels that his side will have to keep playing at their top game to prepare for the tricky tie against AC Milan in February.

"It is a difficult draw but an exciting one," he told the club's official website. "And they could say exactly the same thing I suppose. It is a 50:50.

"So let's make sure we continue to improve until February. Then we can take our chance with full power and belief."

"Yes, we have good memories at San Siro," the Gunners boss acknowledged. "As I say it is an interesting draw.

The Rossoneri's director, Umberto Gandini, described the match as the "tie of the round" and Wenger agreed that it is the type of fixture that would be expected in the quarter-finals of the competition.

"Ideally, it is a draw for one round later but you take them when they happen.

"There is not much more to say really - everybody knows Milan, everybody knows Arsenal.

"We have been in the Champions League for many years and both sides play positive football.

"We have been up to the task every time in this competition so let's make sure we are again."

Both sides will meet at San Siro in the first leg in February before playing the second leg at the Emirates Stadium in March.