LONDON (AFP) - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has warned Liverpool that the Gunners are strong enough to end their formidable Champions League record.

Wenger's young team were paired with their Premier League rivals in the draw for the last eight on Friday.

Liverpool have established an impressive run in Europe's elite club competition since Rafa Benitez arrived at Anfield in 2004. They have reached the final twice in the last three years, winning the trophy for a fifth time in 2005.

But Wenger has built a side rapidly emerging as one of the best in Europe. They knocked out the holders AC Milan in the last round thanks to a mature display in the San Siro, so the French coach has no fears about facing Liverpool.

"We have the holders and the finalists on our route. We just knocked Milan out. That was a big hurdle," Wenger said.

"We were strong enough to knock the holders out so lets do it against Liverpool.

"I said ideally you would like to pay a foreign team because it's Europe but I prepared myself to play anyone. We are highly determined to go through.

"When you play so many games against each other, I feel it will just be like a championship game."

A quirk of the fixture list means Wenger's side will meet Liverpool three times in a week.

They host the Champions League first leg on April 1 or 2, entertain the Reds in the Premier League on April 5, with the return at Anfield following in midweek.

"It's amazing, but not surprising. I've seen it many times. We will know each other well after the three games. It's challenging and interesting as well," Wenger said.

"It's a good opportunity to be consistent against Liverpool because it's three very important games.

"It doesn't matter what competition you play in, we want to win the game.

"It's important that we are in a good spell when we play these games. So it's very important to focus on our immediate games."

The Gunners drew 1-1 at Liverpool back in October thanks to Cesc Fabregas's late equaliser and beat Benitez's side there in the FA and League Cups last season, so the prospect of playing the second leg at Anfield is not one that worries Wenger.

"Liverpool has a fantastic stadium and it's very loud on cup ocassions. They can raise the atmosphere and certainly raise the level of their game," Wenger said.

"But it doesn't really matter. We showed against Milan that when we are at our best we can beat anyone."

It will be the clubs' first meeting in European competition. The winners potentially face another familar face in the semi-finals after the draw pitted them against the winners of Chelsea's tie against Fenerbahce.

That would present Arsenal with the chance to avenge their 2004 Champions League quarter-final defeat to their London rivals.

But Wenger is more concerned about getting his team back on track in the Premier League first.

They face Middlesbrough on Saturday after three successive draws and Wenger said: "Lets not think too far away. Lets do it step by step. We need to take off in the championship again and get our points."