2007/08 was the season that English clubs took charge of the Champions League. A Premier League team had featured in the three previous finals, but the dramatic showdown between Chelsea and Manchester United marked the beginning of an era of English dominance in Europe's showpiece competition.

Each of the Premiership 'big four' reached last year's quarter finals, with only Arsenal, by virtue of their narrow defeat to Liverpool, failing to reach the last four.

All have progressed to this year's last 16 with relative ease, and whilst four European giants stand in their way, the fact that the English team will start as favourite in each respective tie is indicative of the shift in power at the top level of European club football.

Teams from the same country have contested Champions League finals twice before (Real Madrid and Valencia in 1999/2000 and Milan and Juventus in 2002/03), but it is English teams who are likely to repeat the feat in the coming seasons. The similarity in records of the leading nations that has seen Spain, Italy and England produce 11 European Cup / Champions League winners is unlikely to remain over the coming years.

I expect Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United to all again reach the quarter finals and whilst the draw for the last eight might of course reduce the chances, an all English final is an attractive bet for anyone wanting to gamble on the Champions League.