AS Monaco striker Dimitar Berbatov has warned his teammates that Arsenal will be a "difficult" test to overcome in the last 16 of the Champions League.

The Ligue 1 club travel to the Emirates for the first leg on Wednesday night having won their group despite scoring just four goals in six matches.

Berbatov, who played against the Gunners in the Premier League for Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Fulham, acknowledged that his side would be underdogs for the tie but is hopeful that they can take a positive result back to the principality.

"We know it is going to be a difficult game and we will be the underdogs, but we came for a good result, have prepared well and hopefully we can achieve it. I spent a couple of years here and have told my teammates this will be a tough game. Being back here is great for me, playing in this stadium," Berbatov is quoted as saying by PA.

"I have had some good moments here, scored a couple of goals, and also had some bad moments. It is nothing new to me. I know the games, I watch them on TV, Arsenal are playing very well. They are a team who work a lot of passes, try to play the combinations, football the way it should be played. They play on the counter with quick players and very technical.

"Maybe this will be new for some of my team-mates, but I have explained to them that it will be difficult, so they need to do their homework, and our coach will prepare us for the game. Hopefully we can do what we came here to do."

Berbatov faced Arsenal in seven North London derbies during his time with Spurs, and also scored a brace at the Emirates for Fulham in a 3-3 draw.