The last three times Arsenal have played Bayern Munich in the Champions League, the experience has been somewhat sobering.
In their most recent meeting, in March 2017 at the Emirates, Arsenal lost 5-1. A month before that, at the Allianz Arena, Arsenal lost 5-1. And when they met in November 2015, again at the Allianz Arena, Arsenal lost 5-1.
The German giants loom large in the repeating pattern of Arsenal’s most recent appearances in the competition, where it seemed to be their purpose to act as second-round cannon fodder for the elite of European football.
They lost in the second round seven years in succession and every year strengthened the impression that they were being left behind.
Perhaps that is part of the reason it seems to have been hard for so many to acknowledge that when Arsenal host Bayern at the Emirates, they will do so not just as a team that is leading the race for the Premier League title but as a team that is a legitimate contender to win the Champions League.
Arsenal are not bit-part players any more. They are not here for a cameo or to make up the numbers or to be an easy route to the semis for a side with a deeper pedigree. They are in the last eight for the first time in 14 years with a real chance of going all the way and neither Real Madrid nor Manchester City would relish playing them in the last four.
Even if they have lost those last three meetings 15-3 on aggregate, they are favourites to progress. The power of the Premier League and Arsenal’s exalted position within it are such that it would be a major shock if Bayern were to get anything out of the first leg in north London. There has been a sea change in the fortunes of both clubs.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was reminded of the recent history between the two teams at his press conference yesterday afternoon, but he knew those questions were coming.
‘It’s there,’ he said. ‘That is history. When you look at their history in the competition, it’s clear. Their nature and their capacity to perform at bigger stages and we have to prove that, that’s for sure.
‘The difference between us now and when we last played Bayern? I don’t know, I can understand those debates and those opinions. For us it’s irrelevant, we just focus on the performance we have to put in to beat a exceptional team with exceptional individuals. We have to earn every right on the pitch to make it happen and try to win the match.’
But Bayern are not the team they were, either, for entirely different reasons.
They have won the Bundesliga title for the last 11 seasons but that run is about to come to an end. They trail leaders Bayer Leverkusen by 16 points and blew a two-goal lead at minnows Heidenheim at the weekend to lose 3-2.
Add to that the fact that their supporters have been banned from the Emirates after incidents with pyrotechnics at recent away games and there is a feeling that Arsenal, a club on the rise, will be hosting a club battling decline in the first leg of this tie.
Bayern do have Harry Kane, of course, and in other circumstances his return to the capital where he enjoyed so much success with Tottenham would be greeted with a certain amount of apprehension by Arsenal fans.
Kane has still scored 32 league goals in his first season in German football but whether the England captain has the supporting cast to help him get past a defence as good as Arsenal’s is a different matter.
Accused by some of losing their nerve in the title race last season — it was probably more important that they were deprived of centre back William Saliba through injury — Arsenal have proved themselves a different proposition this season and have shown no sign of fading in their quest for domestic glory.
The arrival of Declan Rice and the way he has established himself at the heart of the team has brought Arsenal a new strength and balance and Kai Havertz has been an unexpected and welcome success in giving their forward line a different dimension. Bayern will meet an Arsenal team in top form.
Apart from Kane, there may also be another Spurs old boy in the Bayern ranks. Bayern started with Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae at centre back against Heidenheim but Eric Dier and Matthijs de Ligt are tipped to return to the starting XI.
Arteta said Bayern’s domestic struggles would have little impact on the tie.
‘We just expect, all the time, the best from your opponent,’ Arteta said. ‘But against Bayern, against any opponent, against Brighton at the weekend, regardless of where they are, you always have to expect they play in the best possible way and be prepared to outperform them.’
Arsenal have been doing that regularly this season, outplaying whoever is put in their way, slaying psychological demons by beating Manchester City and harbouring no fears about playing the biggest clubs.
Bayern are the mighty fallen and the Champions League is all they have left to cling to but if Arsenal play to the standards they have met so far this season, they will be too strong for the giants who have tormented them in the past.
