Arsenal draw Bayern Munich yet again, but will it be different this time?
After nearly half a decade of struggle, Arsenal finally finished first in their Champions League group. They beat out Paris Saint-Germain for the top spot, and awaited Monday's draw to see what second-placed team they'd be matched up with. After all the hope the top spot brought, they ended up with Bayern Munich in the round of 16, yet again. This time though, Arsenal have their best opportunity yet to beat their bogey team.
Arsenal were eliminated by Bayern in 2013 and again in 2014, first by the management of Jupp Heynckes and then by Pep Guardiola. Now, Bayern are under the care of Carlo Ancelotti, and they're struggling (at least, by their lofty standards). They currently sit top of Bundesliga, level on points with surprise package RB Leipzig. It's not just about league position for Bayern though: they've struggled to really find their identity following Guardiola's departure, and it's still a work in progress.
Bayern have lost to Dortmund, Atletico, and even lowly Rostov this season (their first ever Champions League win). Against Dortmund and Atletico, they weren't just beaten, they were out-coached and out-performed. That's not something that happens often with Ancelotti or Bayern, but it will bring hope to Arsenal fans as they prepare to take on Die Roten once again.
On the other side of the coin, Arsenal look vibrant, sturdy, and they're getting results. Winter has arrived, but the drop-off in form that's so often accompanied the Gunners descent into the snowy months hasn't yet. Their best players are performing, injuries are (for Arsenal) at a minimum, and the team looks built for the long haul. Arsenal may have needed a little bit of good fortune to finish top of their Champions League group, but it's not just luck that saw them go undefeated in the group, and sees them in second place in the Premier League table.
Finally, Arsenal have depth, they have quality, and they have match-winners. They've been a very good team for the past few years, but they haven't been close to a great team. Now, with the likes of Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Petr Cech, and a high quality supporting cast, they're approaching the level it takes to truly be considered amongst the top echelon.
February is a long way off. In between there are have two-plus months of fixtures, the January transfer window, and plenty of time for injuries. Bayern Munich aren't in great form right now, but even after their "struggles" they're top of the Bundesliga and split matches with Atletico Madrid, the best team in Champions League so far. Carlo Ancelotti hasn't won three Champions League trophies by chance, and he's got more than enough time (plus a winter break that Arsenal don't have) to get his team ship-shape. By February, Bayern will likely be well prepared and up to the task. The onus is on Arsenal to prove they've truly improved and are ready to stand up to the Bayern threat.
Arsenal will still come into the match as underdogs.
As Arjen Robben so succinctly put it, "For them, the pressure is to make it to the quarterfinal for the first time in many years. Our target is always the final. But this draw doesn't make it easy [for either team.]"
And it's true. Bayern are in the top echelon of teams who expect to be in, or around the Champions League final once it's all done and dusted. Anything else is a failure. But this time, Arsenal have their best shot yet at toppling Bayern and taking the next step to finally being a great team again.
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