Champions League post-match reaction: Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri is banking on his team keeping their impressive away defensive record to maintain their progression into the Champions League semi-finals.

Chelsea have not conceded a goal away from home in five matches in the competition so far - and will need to do the same at Highbury on April 6th if they are to progress after last night's draw.

"Away we have not conceded a goal so far - so why not continue?" Ranieri said. "I'm very pleased with our performance. We played with a confidence against Arsenal - everybody knows they are a great team.

"We played well, closed down space and tried to play our football and after we had scored maybe we deserved a little more. We had two great chances to score again and after 10 minutes they drew the match. It was a good reaction by Arsenal, but I think we deserve a little more. But I say 'thank you' to my players because they played very, very well."

Ranieri also revealed he has tried to shield his players from the continued speculation surrounding his future at Stamford Bridge.

"I have tried to keep them out of everything - all the rumours. We are playing well, it's a great season for us in my opinion.

"Only fantastic Arsenal are in front of us and we are playing in the Champions League quarter-finals. At Highbury, we will try to score - I am positive."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's thoughts have already turned to next Sunday evening's Premiership encounter with Manchester United at Highbury and the manager insisted his team will be ready for the game despite last night's exertions.

"The players have given a lot physically, but they are used to it and they'll recover," the Arsenal manager insisted.

"At 1-0 Chelsea were cautious and played not to concede a goal. They played well and tried to suck us in and get a break and got a goal with a situation which shouldn't have been dangerous.

"It was a sloppy goal. We try to play high with the 'keeper coming out and that's the kind of thing you are exposed too. Lehmann feels responsible, but (Eidur) Gudjohnsen did very well.

"We needed to be really strong then and not cave in - and we were. We were patient and got back to 1-1 and you could see there was room for us to win the game.

"The pace of the game was English, but I felt Chelsea were more cautious than in the FA Cup or the Premiership - they concentrated on not giving us any chances on the break.

"But this is a good opportunity for us to make it at home because we have scored a goal away. We will qualify with 0-0 - or any win - so I can't complain.

"It's a good outcome for us tonight and a good opportunity to go through. But as you can see from tonight it will be very tight."

Gudjohnsen agreed that there was still all to play for. "Maybe Arsenal have a slight advantage because we have to go there and score. We were desperate to keep a clean sheet, but in the end we gave them a good game and definitely need to do the business when we go to Highbury.

"At stages we had difficulty closing them down and the game went in patches," added the Chelsea striker. "We had a spell after we scored where we looked like getting a second goal - but their goal was a blow because it looked like we were on top of them."

For his strike, the Icelander said: "I wasn't sure if I'd get there before the 'keeper (Lehmann) and luckily the ball stayed in front of me - but I think I did quite well to score.

"Their goal was important - you could see their reaction. One-nil would have been perfect - but it's only half-time.

"We've struggled recently to beat them - but there's a first time for everything."