Fabregas eyes Gunners UCL reunion

Posted Saturday, December 08, 2012 by ESPN

Barcelona's Cesc Fabregas would like to take on former club Arsenal for his team's Champions League round of 16 tie.

Tito Vilanova's squad finished at the top of Group G despite being held to a goalless draw by Portuguese side Benfica, leaving them open to possibility of drawing Arsenal, who finished second in Group B, in the next round.

Fabregas told AS that every team who qualified for the knockout stages deserved their place, and he hoped for a reunion on the pitch with Arsene Wenger's men.

"I think that at this stage of the competition every team is going to be difficult, but I would love to meet Arsenal; to go back to London and play against all those people I shared my life with for so many years," Fabregas said.

"It would be a very special tie for me."

The stalemate against Benfica saw star playmaker Lionel Messi stretchered off after suffering a bruised knee, but the Spaniard revealed that Messi was eager to return to action this weekend.

"Knowing him, Leo will want to play on Sunday. Today [Friday] in the dressing room he was already asking if he would be able to play," Fabregas shared.

"Both for us and the world of football it's great that he is fine. We were a bit scared, because he doesn't end up on the floor often, but it's fine, thank God."

Barcelona take on Real Betis for their La Liga fixture this weekend.