Arsenal FC will face Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the Champions League. Read our in depth article about this Champions League last 16 matchup.
Arsenal FC – FC Bayern München
First leg: Emirates Stadium, London. Tuesday, February 19
Second leg: Fußball Arena München, Munich. Wednesday, March 13 (buy tickets for this match)
In north London the fans are getting restless, even questioning the man behind the modern re-emergence of Arsenal, Arsene Wenger. With their team failing again to challenge for the domestic title and facing more challengers for Champions League qualification, a visit from Bayern Munich is the last thing they would have dreamed of at Christmas.
This is as far as the Gunners have progressed in the last two seasons and Wenger will want to go further to justify his belief that he can build a successful side without breaking the bank.
Bayern have unhappy memories of London clubs after the heartbreak of losing last year’s final in their own home ground. How sweet it would be to return to London in May for this year’s Wembley final.
The German giants, four times winners of Europe’s top competition, have lost only once in this season’s tournament. Arsenal were denied first place in Group B by another German side Schalke, who drew at the Emirates and beat the Gunners 2-0 in Germany.
This is only the third meeting of these two sides and the Germans have come out top on both occasions – 4-3 in the round of 16 in 2005 and winning one and drawing one of their second group stage meetings in 2000-01.
Until Schalke came along Arsenal had done well at home to German opposition, winning six on the trot and nine out of 12 overall with one draw. In fact, any visitors to the Emirates come up against it; the home side haven’t lost to overseas visitors for 45 games.
Bayern purred through their group, notching up 4-0 and 6-1 victories along the way. It’s a close run thing when it comes to English opposition though; the Bavarians have won 13, drawn 12 and lost 10, they’ve never won in London and lost four of their last five matches in England. They’ve lost two finals, to Chelsea and Manchester United, but beat English champions Leeds United in 1975 to win the second of their famous three consecutive European Cups.
Arsenal will need to get off to a good start to this tie, at Fußball Arena München Bayern have won 17 of their last Champions League games.
Arsenal’s new striker Lukas Poldoski will want to do well against a former club, but their defender Per Mertesacker has faced them 16 times and only won twice. For Bayern, tricky winger and playmaker Arjen Robben faced the Gunners four times as a Chelsea player and never lost.
Bayern’s coach, Jupp Heynckes is angry that his successor Pep Guardiola has been announced mid-season while Arsenal have recently been boosted by the long-term signing of their speedy front man Theo Walcott who along with young team mates Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are the Gunners’ future.
Head to Head
Arsenal FC
League position on February 4
Sixth
Last five games
L, W, W, D, W
Odds
34/13
Bayern Munich
League position on February 4
First
Last five games
W, D, W, W, W
Odds
6/5
Odds on draw
47/18
Check out the other Champions League last 16 matchups :
Celtic Glasgow vs Juventus
Valencia CF vs Paris Saint-Germain
FC Shakhtar Donetsk v Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid CF v Manchester United FC
FC Porto v Málaga CF
Galatasaray A.S. v FC Schalke 04
AC Milan v FC Barcelona