Arsenal legend Thierry Henry says: We will knock Bayern Munich out!

Since then they have lost six times in succession at this stage, twice to Bayern, twice to Barcelona, and also to Milan in 2012 and Monaco a year ago. In last season’s group stage, the Gunners beat Bayern 2-0 at home but went down 5-1 in Munich.

“But to keep things in context, we have now been in the knockout phase of the Champions League for 14 years running”, said David Miles, Arsenal Club secretary. We thought “surely they won’t draw Bayern Munich again, that would be too cruel even for the soccer gods”.

That was until Bayern Munich finished second in their group, meaning a tie against the Gunners was possible and, of course, inevitable. They are a very strong team.

Wenger is hoping to get a good result away from home and maintain the momentum in the second leg at home.

“It appears that we may have opened a portal to a parallel universe where Arsenal had a decent shot at getting through to the quarter-finals”, Byrne admitted.

“They are going to be two very interesting games”, said coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Arsenal’s Gabriel at the end of his side’s Premier League clash with Stoke.

Serie A champions Juventus were drawn against Porto in a repeat of the 1984 European Cup Winners’ Cup final which the Italian side won 2-1.

The ESPN FC crew discuss whether Barcelona are the team to beat in the Champions League.

Barca’s Spanish rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid face Napoli and Bayer Leverkusen respectively, while Benfica meet Borussia Dortmund and Porto take on Juventus. “They have young players and a lot of talent”. “We have played on numerous occasions, and each time they have been fantastic matches”, he said on Monday.

Leverkusen will renew acquaintances with Club Atletico de Madrid, who they gave a good run for their money just two seasons ago at the same stage before being eliminated on a penalty shoot-out.

Borussia Dortmund, which set a Champions League record by scoring 21 goals in a six-game group stage, will play at Benfica first.