Mikel had hoped for an all English Uefa Champions League final between Arsenal and Man City

FORMER Super Eagles skipper John Obi Mikel said he wished English Premier League sides Arsenal and Manchester City were the two teams to reach the final of this year's Uefa Champions league final before today's draw in Switzerland.

Mikel, 36, who spent a 11 years playing in the Premier League with Chelsea, was the guest of honour at today's Uefa Champions League draw held at Nyon, Switzerland. Today's draw was the last ever for the current format of the Champions League as a 36-team format will come into effect next season.

Before performing the draw, Mikel was asked which teams would make it to the final and he said he hoped it was the English duo, especially given that the final is taking place in London. Mikel is one of the few Nigerian players alongside Finidi George and Kanu Nwankwo to have won the Champions League.

Mikel said: “The final will hold in Wembley, England so I would like an English club to make it into the final. I hope Manchester City or Arsenal make it."

Arsenal will take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals, with the winner of the tie squaring off with the winner between Real Madrid and Manchester City in the semi-finals. This will be the seventh time the Gunners have been paired with Bayern Munich in the competition and out of 14 meetings, the Gunners have won three, drawn twice and lost seven.

This draw means that Arsenal and Manchester City cannot meet in the final now, as at best, one of them will eliminate the other in the semi final. Arsenal will host the first leg of the quarter finals at the Emirates Stadium, which will see former Tottenham Hotspur talisman Kane return to London, leading the Bayern Munich attack.

All the quarter-final first legs will be played on between April 9 and 10, with the second legs taking place a week later. Then the semi-finals will take place on April 30 and  May 1, with the returns the following week, while Wembley will host the final on June 1.

Draws

Quarter-finals

Arsenal vs Bayern München

Atlético de Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund

Real Madrid vs Manchester City

Paris Saint-Germain vs Barcelona

Semi-finals

Atlético de Madrid/Borussia Dortmund vs Paris Saint-Germain/Barcelona

Arsenal/Bayern München vs Real Madrid/Manchester City