A few years back, Arsenal vs Bayern Munich would have seen the English Premier League side go into the tie as the team to beat; however, things have now changed so dramatically that the German side will start the overwhelming favorites.
Bayern will be fancied not just to beat Arsenal over two legs in the last 16 of the Champions League, but in the first leg at The Emirates as well, where Arsenal just suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Championships side Blackburn in the F.A. Cup.
Bayern suffered disappointment last season, when they lost the domestic double to Borussia Dortmund and then saw the Champions League slip out of their hands against Chelsea.
Arsenal just about crept into the third spot, without ever challenging for the Premier League title and crashed out of both the Champions League and F.A. Cup early.
What did Bayern do, after a disappointing season? They strengthened their side by buying Javi Martinez and Mario Mandzukic, to just name a couple, and more importantly they kept their best players.
Arsenal? They let go of their best player to one of their title rivals -- Robin Van Persie has guided Manchester United to the summit of the Premier League -- and replaced him with a player who will never hit the heights of the prolific Dutchman, even if he might be a good squad player.
Mediocrity, unfortunately is the name of the game at Arsenal at the moment, and there are no signs of change as Arsene Wenger continues to be in denial, thinking that this squad is good enough to compete at all levels, despite continually proving otherwise with their performances on the pitch.
Such has been Arsenal's downfall over the last few years that the home side, so known for their possession game, are expected to play on the counter in their own backyard against Bayern.
That is fine, if you produce it with results, as Manchester United showed in the Champions League game against Real Madrid, albeit away at the Bernabeu.
Possession is only one-tenths of the law as Chelsea proved over the course of last season; what you do with that possession is what makes all the difference and this Arsenal side at the moment miss way too many chances and let their heads drop way before the proverbial fat lady has sung.
Bayern will come to London in buoyant mood, with the Bundesliga title pretty much sealed and their players brimming with confidence. They have a squad capable of hurting you from all sides, with the likes of Franck Ribery, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Toni Kroos and Thomas Mueller in their lineup, with plenty more ammunition on the bench if needed.
Arjen Robben will almost certainly be amongst the substitutes, while Mario Gomez might have to cool his heels for Mandzukic, who has been in brilliant form, such is Bayern's strength in depth at the moment.
Arsenal have no such luxury, however, as the likes of Gervinho, Abou Diaby and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain showed Saturday.
Wenger will also have to make a decision on who to play at left-back with Kieran Gibbs injured and Nacho Monreal cup-tied. Thomas Vermaelen, who has had an extremely poor season, looks the most likely candidate, although Bacary Sagna is also capable of switching to left-back or center-back, as he showed against Sunderland, with Carl Jenkinson filling in on the right.
Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla will need to win the midfield battle if the Gunners are to stand any chance. Those three are the absolute key for the home side; if they can get their grip on the game and create chances for the likes of Lukas Podolski, who will be up for it against his old team, Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott, there just might be hope.
The Gunners have the players to hurt any team on their day; but those days are few and far between, and in a team sport, the deficiencies seem to show up a lot more than the positives.
Gooners, and indeed fans of the Premier League - Spurs fans exempted of course -- will be hoping it is one of those days when the real Arsenal stand up and deliver one of those memorable performances, which was in such large supply at Highbury not too long ago.
Team News and Injuries: Arsenal have a worry over Laurent Koscielny, who is ill, while Kieran Gibbs is ruled out and Nacho Monreal is cup tied.
Bayern will be without Holger Badstuber and Jerome Boateng, who is suspended, while Claudio Pizarro is expected to stay in Germany as he continues his recovery from an angina attack. Midfielder Javi Martinez, though, has been passed fit after missing Friday's win against Wolfsburg due to a bruised toe.
Expected Lineups: Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen; Arteta, Wilshere; Walcott, Cazorla, Podolski; Giroud.
Bayern: Neuer; Lahm, Dante, Van Buyten, Alaba; Martinez, Schweinsteiger; Muller, Kroos, Ribery; Mandzukic.
Prediction: 2-1 to Bayern
