Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal have nothing to be afraid of in next week's UEFA Champions League draw despite their failure to win Group G. Wenger's side surrendered top spot in their qualifying group to Porto after a dismal 2-0 defeat against the Portuguese champions at the Dragao Stadium on Wednesday.

The Gunners had needed only a draw to clinch first place and with it the advantage of playing the second leg of their second round tie at home. But goals from Bruno Alves and Lisandro Lopez either side of half-time killed off an under-strength Arsenal.

Finishing second means the north London club will face either Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Roma or Panathinaikos in the last 16 when the draw is made in Nyon next Friday, but that daunting prospect doesn't faze Wenger. "We can fight with everybody in Europe and can qualify against anybody," he said.

"We will see who we get in the draw, and then look at the Champions League again in February. Let's first wait to see who we get. It is difficult to have any speculation now. It is important now to come back in the Premier League and be in a good position. We now have some time to focus on that."

Seven changes
With his team already qualified for the last 16 and with several key men including Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor carrying injuries, Wenger opted to make seven changes to the team which had defeated Wigan on Saturday. But the gamble backfired and Wenger admitted his young side had been taught a lesson.

"We lost the match and came second. Porto were stronger than us tonight," Wenger said. "In the first half, we were not in trouble until the first goal, from then on the game became more difficult. We have seen our weaknesses from when we were in a position where we had to come out at the back and put them under pressure, because we lost balls where you cannot afford to lose balls and we were in trouble.

"In the last 20 minutes, they were dangerous every time we lost the ball and we were not effective enough up front. I feel under-performed is maybe a big word. When we are 2-0 down the belief was not there and we were not strong enough to come back."

Yet Wenger was adamant the decision to field an inexperienced team was the right one because he has to concentrate on keeping Arsenal in the Premier League title race, starting at Middlesbrough on Saturday. "We had some injured players at home, but we have played five times now out of six a game away from home in the Premier League after a European game," he said.

"This was the only match we could try to protect our next fixture in the championship, that is why we did it. But many of the players who stayed at home were a doubt anyway."