Bayern Munich: "We didn't want Arsenal"

Many of Europe’s top teams were probably willing Napoli to get that 3rd goal or hoping somehow Arsenal would draw level or Marseille would rifle in an equaliser. At the same time Gooners were willing Dortmund to capitulate and Arsenal to salvage a draw as they didn’t want Arsenal to finish second in their group because of who we could face. Ironically, the teams we could face didn’t want Arsenal to finish second either, in fear of drawing them in the next round.

Bayern haven’t specifically said they didn’t want to draw Arsenal, it would be foolish for any team to openly declare they didn’t want to get a specific team just in case they drew that team. However, you get the feeling that Bayern are cursing their luck at the moment for drawing Arsenal.

You would think the reigning champions would have nothing to fear from a so-called also-ran team but that ignores the delicate mentality of a footballer. Bayern have swept aside all that has been put in front of them for the past year except for Arsenal. Bayern maybe didn’t give everything they could have in that defeat at the Allianz but that was only until the second goal went in.

Bayern will remember that Arsenal almost knocked them out of the competition they eventually won, at their home ground. They will also remember that Arsenal is the only team in the past 88 games that has stopped them from scoring. These things will not entirely dictate the result or the performance but leading up to the draw it is something they would have had concerns about.

The Arsenal team that beat them isn’t the Arsenal team they will face, in fact, the Arsenal team they will face is an improved version of the team that beat them and with added steel and magic dust in the forms of Flamini and Özil.

Jerome Boateng said: “The hardest opponents that we could have drawn.”

Munich are clearly the favourites, as reigning champions, the best club side in the world, and for having the crucial second leg at home but more so, they will not take Arsenal lightly having almost shot themselves in the foot doing the same last season.

It’s going to be a tough task for Arsenal, especially with an already jam packed February that could make or break their season. Make no mistake though, this Arsenal is revelling in their position as perpetual underdogs and will relish the opportunity to go that one step further against Bayern.

An uphill struggle it may be, and predicting a winner is going to be tough, but one thing is for sure and that is it’s going to be an explosive and highly entertaining tie to watch.