Champions League Draw: Arsenal draw Bayern Munich

Huge surprise today in Nyon, where the Champions League Round of 16 draw paired Arsenal with Bayern Munich. Arsenal will now play the German giants for the third time in five years in the knockout stages having been eliminated in the previous two occasions – 2013 and 2014. 

This year, however, could prove to be very different as Arsenal now have a proper squad to rely on and the advantage of playing the second leg at home at the Emirates Stadium. Bayern have found themselves struggling so far this season under new coach Carlo Ancelotti but they’re still the favourites of the tie, due to the incredible quality of their squad. They have also won their last 4 games and smashed WFL Wolfsburg 5-0 last weekend and look to have begun to take shape under Ancelotti. 

A tough draw, Arsenal would have hoped for a better tie after topping their group, but this Arsenal team is the strongest in years and if they stay injury-free, they will have a real chance to beat Bayern. If Arsenal don’t come through the tie, it will have huge ramifications for the season.