All four English sides made it through to the last eight of Europe's elite club competition so an all-Barclays Premier League affair is a strong probability.

However, Arsenal, who secured their place with a dramatic penalty shoot-out win in Rome to beat Roma, have lost at the quarter-final stage twice before to teams from their own division - against Liverpool last year and to Chelsea back in 2003/2004, the season in which Arsene Wenger's side won the domestic title with an unbeaten record.

Holders Manchester United, German giants Bayern Munich and Barcelona - winners against Arsenal in the 2006 final - are the other big hitters, along with Villarreal and Porto, who topped the Gunners' opening group.

However, Fabregas - who is closing in on a first-team return from a serious knee injury that has sidelined him since before Christmas - feels Arsenal should fear no-one.

"We know it will be tough in the next round but we also know we can beat any one of them," said Fabregas, who hopes to be fully match fit for both of next month's quarter-final ties.

"We are in the quarter-finals, among the eight best teams in Europe, and we are there on merit.

"We deserve to be there and it's serious now. If you want to win this competition you have to beat the best players in the world and now is that time."

Gunners boss Wenger is also not unduly concerned by who his team may face, insisting it is now all about how Arsenal perform.

"We know the other seven teams in the quarter-finals very well. We are confident we could beat any of them," he said.

"At this stage of the competition, I do not think it really matters who you play, so let us see who the draw gives us and knock them out."

Arsenal head into a crucial stage of the season with a much more positive outlook, now back up into fourth place in the Premier League following an unbeaten run of 15 matches and also through to an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley.

The Gunners - who last lost in the league at Manchester City on November 22 - have conceded only six goals in the last 17 games.

First-choice keeper Manuel Almunia is expected to be fit for tomorrow's trip to relegation battlers Newcastle following an ankle injury.

Fabregas, meanwhile, categorically denies allegations by Hull boss Phil Brown, who claims he witnessed the Spaniard spit towards assistant manager Brian Horton as they went down the tunnel after the fiery FA Cup quarter-final clash at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Football Association have written to Hull asking for their version of events, as nothing was mentioned in the report of referee Mike Riley or any other match officials.