Arsenal and Manchester City face monumental tasks when they visit European powerhouses Bayern Munich and Barcelona looking to overturn 2-0 deficits in the second legs of their Champions League last-16 ties.
Arsenal must overcome Pep Guardiola and his red-hot Bayern side at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday after goals from Toni Kroos and Thomas Mueller condemned them to defeat in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium last month.
City, meanwhile, travel to the Nou Camp on Wednesday with their own mountain to climb after goals from Lionel Messi and Dani Alves gave Barcelona a commanding advantage midway through the tie.
In the week’s other last-16 ties, Atletico Madrid face AC Milan at the Vicente Calderon with a 1-0 lead on Tuesday before Paris St Germain host Bayer Leverkusen at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday with a 4-0 advantage after the first leg.
Arsenal, third in the Premier League, have the unenviable task of trying to become only the second team to beat the runaway Bundesliga leaders at home this season.
The Gunners can take heart from last season’s visit to the same venue where they won 2-0 and only failed to make it through to the quarterfinals by virtue of an away goal after Bayern had won the first leg 3-1 in London.
Arsene Wenger will be buoyed by his team’s 4-1 win over Everton in the FA Cup quarterfinal on Saturday, which represents their most realistic chance of a trophy this season.
“Psychologically, it puts us in a good mind for Munich,” said Wenger. “We can be inspired by our focus and our desire.
“It was a high-quality performance from the first minute to the last minute and we can go to Bayern in the same spirit.
“The statistics are against us, but let’s make sure that the performance goes for us, and then we have a chance.”
Wenger was pleased by the display of Mesut Ozil who scored the opening goal, provided the assist for Arsenal’s fourth and put in a vastly improved performance ahead of the must-win second leg.
“I think the goal was important for him,” said Wenger. “You sometimes want him to take more of a chance because he always looks for the good pass.
“He also did a lot of what you would call ‘dirty work’. He tracked back a lot on counter-attacks and when he behaves like that you have a better chance to win the game.”
Source: Supersport
“[katogoaward]”