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Bayern v Arsenal: reaction, analysis

Arsenal's reward for winning their group is another meeting with the top-ranked runners-up, though Manuel Neuer warns that Bayern may not have it all their own way this time.

Bayern v Arsenal: reaction, analysis
Bayern v Arsenal: reaction, analysis ©UEFA.com

Match dates: 15 February, 7 March

Reaction

Carlo Ancelotti, Bayern coach: "We are looking forward to two interesting games. I have faith in my team and hope we can reach the quarter-finals. Arsenal have a very good team at the moment and a manager I hold in high esteem."

David Miles, Arsenal club secretary: "We are through to the knockout stage for the 17th consecutive season, which is testament to Arsène Wenger and the teams throughout that time. But the fans will think we have got the rough end of the draw again – at some stage the tide has got to turn and we will beat them."

Manuel Neuer, Bayern keeper: "We know Arsenal well from previous years and have some good experiences playing them. Currently I rate this Arsenal side even stronger than in previous years."

Thomas Müller, Bayern forward: "Arsenal is a difficult task, without question. Two European heavyweights come up against each other, but in the end hopefully Bayern will come out on top."

Key facts

Lewandowski scores in last season's 5-1 win
Lewandowski scores in last season's 5-1 win©AFP/Getty Images
  • Bayern also triumphed at Arsenal in 2012/13, this time 3-1, although they only squeezed through on away goals after going down 2-0 at home in the second game.
  • In the 2004/05 round of 16, a 1-0 second-leg win at their former home of Highbury was not enough for Arsenal having lost 3-1 at Bayern's Olympiastadion.
  • The sides first met in the 2000/01 second group stage, drawing 2-2 at Arsenal in December 2000 before Bayern prevailed 1-0 in Germany the following March. Both clubs made the quarter-finals from that section.
  • Bayern's record against English teams is W19 D16 L14; Arsenal's record against Bundesliga sides is W16 D6 L12.
  • Arsenal have lost in the last 16 six years in a row.
  • Arsenal's Shokdran Mustafi and Mesut Özil are both German internationals, as was Per Mertesacker (who was not in the group stage squad) before his international retirement in 2014.
  • Arjen Robben (Chelsea), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool) and Jérôme Boateng (Manchester City) have all played in the Premier League. Carlo Ancelotti was manager of Chelsea from 2009 to 2011.