London - We've been here before. English domination of Europe is becoming a habit.

Statistics don't always tell the full story, but in this case they are incontrovertible.

For the third season running, three of the Champions League semi-finalists come from the Premier League.

In the past five seasons, the Premier League has provided 12 of the 20 Champions League semi-finalists while Spain, in the same period has yielded four semi-finalists, Italy two and the Netherlands one.

Not since the 2007 final, when AC Milan beat Liverpool, has an English side been eliminated by foreign opposition.

Barcelona remain favourites with the bookmakers, understandably so, given the scintillating form that has given them a six-point lead at the top of the Spanish table, and saw them demolish Bayern Munich 4-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final.

The one doubt is their defence, which has looked shaky at times and suffers from a lack of practice given how Barca tend to dominate possession.

"(It will be) very tough," said midfielder Frank Lampard.

"Everyone is tough now, but probably no one more so than them.

"They have got some outstanding individuals and probably the best player in the world in (Lionel) Messi."

Chelsea's cause will not be helped by the suspension for the first leg of left-back Ashley Cole, who would have been the man to mark Messi.

Arsenal, who lost to Liverpool in last season's semi-final, face United. When they met in the Premier League in November, Arsenal won 2-1 in a classic.

Arsenal are unbeaten in 18 domestic games, and the return of the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott from injury has given them momentum.

"It will be a difficult game because Arsenal have a lot of big players back and they are in great form," said United full-back Patrice Evra.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is relishing the reawakening of a rivalry with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson that stretches back over a decade.

"It is a test, but it is a challenge you relish and we are excited about that," he said.

"What will important against United will be the form of the day.

"Both teams have the same programme - a game in hand to play in the league, a cup semi-final, so how much we are physically okay might have an impact.

"That's one of the great things about these type of games - they are not predictable.

"You can say that Manchester United are an attacking team so it should be a good game but sometimes, you can cancel each other out."

Either way, there will be at least one English team in the final, looking to make it three English winners in the past five years. (dpa)