Arsenal secured a place in the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday by beating Partizan Belgrade 3-1, overcoming a nervy stretch in the second half with two late goals to secure the win.
Arsenal finished second in Group H behind Shakhtar Donetsk, which beat FC Braga 2-0 to end with 15 points. It means Arsenal must now face a top side, like Barcelona or Real Madrid, in the first knockout round.
Van Persie didn't seem fazed when asked about his preference for the next round.
"As a football fan, Barcelona or (Real) Madrid, but we'll see what the draw will be," he said.
Arsenal took the lead in the 30th minute after Robin van Persie won a controversial penalty. TV replays appeared to show Partizan center back Marko Jovanovic making little contact with the forward.
While Van Persie was about to place the ball on the spot, a Partizan player accused the striker of diving with a gesture. Van Persie converted with a strong shot that went to the goalkeeper's left.
Partizan forward Cordova Cleo equalized in the 52nd minute from the edge of the area after being set up by Almami Moreira. Cleo's shot deflected off Arsenal defender Sebastien Squillaci and over goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Partizan, energized by the equalizer, threatened Arsenal's goal on several occasions after that.
Theo Walcott restored Arsenal's lead in the 73rd after Bacary Sagna whipped a dangerous cross in from the right. A Partizan defender's diving header sent the ball straight to Walcott, who controlled the ball on his chest before slamming a shot past goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic.
Samir Nasri sealed the win four minutes later after an intricate exchange between Nicklas Bendtner and Alex Song, the Frenchman then coolly finishing to the goalkeeper's right.
Sagna was sent off in the 85th for a professioal foul.
Arsenal left it until the final game, and indeed the final stretch of the second half, to secure qualification. The English club breezed through its first three group matches, overwhelming Braga, Partizan and Shakhtar Donetsk, leaving many to assume Arsenal would easily finish top.
But Arsena lost its subsequent two matches away to Shakhtar and Braga, meaning the Gunners had to win to go through.
Arsenal finished second in Group H behind Shakhtar Donetsk, which beat FC Braga 2-0 to end with 15 points. It means Arsenal must now face a top side, like Barcelona or Real Madrid, in the first knockout round.
"As a football fan, Barcelona or (Real) Madrid, but we'll see what the draw will be," he said.
Arsenal took the lead in the 30th minute after Robin van Persie won a controversial penalty. TV replays appeared to show Partizan center back Marko Jovanovic making little contact with the forward.
While Van Persie was about to place the ball on the spot, a Partizan player accused the striker of diving with a gesture. Van Persie converted with a strong shot that went to the goalkeeper's left.
Partizan forward Cordova Cleo equalized in the 52nd minute from the edge of the area after being set up by Almami Moreira. Cleo's shot deflected off Arsenal defender Sebastien Squillaci and over goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Partizan, energized by the equalizer, threatened Arsenal's goal on several occasions after that.
Theo Walcott restored Arsenal's lead in the 73rd after Bacary Sagna whipped a dangerous cross in from the right. A Partizan defender's diving header sent the ball straight to Walcott, who controlled the ball on his chest before slamming a shot past goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic.
Samir Nasri sealed the win four minutes later after an intricate exchange between Nicklas Bendtner and Alex Song, the Frenchman then coolly finishing to the goalkeeper's right.
Sagna was sent off in the 85th for a professioal foul.
Arsenal left it until the final game, and indeed the final stretch of the second half, to secure qualification. The English club breezed through its first three group matches, overwhelming Braga, Partizan and Shakhtar Donetsk, leaving many to assume Arsenal would easily finish top.
But Arsena lost its subsequent two matches away to Shakhtar and Braga, meaning the Gunners had to win to go through.