Last season Arsenal were beaten by Bayern Munich in a cagey two-leg affair at that stage. They edged past Porto on penalties to get that far but haven't messed around here.
Tuesday's 7-1 demolition of PSV Eindhoven all but puts them through already. One of Real or Atletico Madrid will await in April once the formalities of a second leg at the Emirates Stadium are completed next week.
Those at the game in north London may well have more eyes on what is happening in Madrid rather than the pitch in front of them, such is the difference in stakes and jeopardy. For Arteta, it is the perfect situation.
His small and stretched squad can be carefully managed in the coming month or so in order to best prepare for the quarter-finals. Arsenal don't have much room for rotation due to injuries but can afford to take their foot off the gas as they look to pace themselves for a big finish.
It is not a sentiment that will be aired by Arteta but the massive advantage does give him some much-needed leeway. For example, in the second leg he will be able to protect Jurrien Timber.
The full-back scored the opener against PSV back in his home country once more but also picked up a silly yellow card. He was pulled up for time-wasting with his side 5-1 up and cruising after two quick goals in the second half.
Timber will now be on a tightrope if he plays the second leg. He has two yellow cards to his name so far this season in the competition. A third before the quarter-finals would see him banned for one match.
The good news is that Arsenal have no real need to play him next week. The lead is so big that Timber can be rested entirely, therefore not risking him in anyway.
However, yellow cards are not wiped until after the quarter-finals, when a new threshold is put in play. That means that Timber would miss the second leg of the next round if he was to play and be booked in the quarter-finals as well. The first match will be played at home.
Arsenal can ensure he is eligible for the first match by not selecting him next week but will surely look to use him against either Madrid side after that. He is not the only one treading this line.
Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Martinelli also have two yellow cards each to their name. Sterling has hardly played for Arsenal this season so would not be a major miss even with a lack of attacking alternatives. He is a natural replacement on the wing for the return PSV clash, though, causing Arteta somewhat of a dilemma.
Gabriel Martinelli is in the same boat. He will miss the second leg with injury and likely won't return until after the international break. The cut-off being after the next round does leave him open to a suspension for the second leg of the quarter-finals if he is fit enough to feature by that stage, though.
Ultimately, these are nice problems for Arteta to have. His team are in the clear and have minor problems to navigate with the result of this tie not being one of them.
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