LONDON - Arsenal will be out to show they have learnt the lessons of last season's painful home defeat by Bayern Munich when the sides meet again in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in London today.
Holders Bayern were utterly dominant in 3-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium, and although Arsenal went on to salvage pride with a 2-0 win in Munich in the return leg, it was not enough to prevent the Gunners going out of the competition in the round of 16 for the third consecutive season.
They face a daunting task to avoid making it four years in a row, however, with the Bayern juggernaut showing little sign of slowing under Pep Guardiola, who led Barcelona to victory over Arsenal at this stage in the 2010-11 season.
Arsenal are a sterner proposition this time as they mount their first serious Premier League challenge for years, and should be boosted by a 2-1 FA Cup victory over Liverpool.
Arsenal's German defender Per Mertesacker acknowledged that it would take "two perfect games" for Arsenal to progress: "We respected them too much in the first leg then, so it was too easy for them. Maybe we have learned something from those lessons and will do better this time."
Despite the comprehensive nature of last season's victory in London, Bayern captain Philipp Lahm is wary of Arsenal.
"We had been very good in London, we thought nothing can happen to us in the return leg," he said. "All of a sudden you are 2-0 down and there are still some minutes to play ... We will have that in the back of our minds."
Meanwhile, Clarence Seedorf will need to tap into all his experience as the only player to win the Champions League with three different clubs if his AC Milan side are to defeat Atletico Madrid today.
Can gunners shoot down slick Bayern?
LONDON - Arsenal will be out to show they have learnt the lessons of last season's painful home defeat by Bayern Munich when the sides meet again in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in London today.
Holders Bayern were utterly dominant in 3-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium, and although Arsenal went on to salvage pride with a 2-0 win in Munich in the return leg, it was not enough to prevent the Gunners going out of the competition in the round of 16 for the third consecutive season.
They face a daunting task to avoid making it four years in a row, however, with the Bayern juggernaut showing little sign of slowing under Pep Guardiola, who led Barcelona to victory over Arsenal at this stage in the 2010-11 season.
Arsenal are a sterner proposition this time as they mount their first serious Premier League challenge for years, and should be boosted by a 2-1 FA Cup victory over Liverpool.
Arsenal's German defender Per Mertesacker acknowledged that it would take "two perfect games" for Arsenal to progress: "We respected them too much in the first leg then, so it was too easy for them. Maybe we have learned something from those lessons and will do better this time."
Despite the comprehensive nature of last season's victory in London, Bayern captain Philipp Lahm is wary of Arsenal.
"We had been very good in London, we thought nothing can happen to us in the return leg," he said. "All of a sudden you are 2-0 down and there are still some minutes to play ... We will have that in the back of our minds."
Meanwhile, Clarence Seedorf will need to tap into all his experience as the only player to win the Champions League with three different clubs if his AC Milan side are to defeat Atletico Madrid today.
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