Champions League: Arsenal vs Bayern Munich preview

Champions League holders Bayern Munich travel to the Emirates Stadium to take on Premier League title contenders Arsenal on Wednesday in the first leg of a much anticipated Champions League last-16 tie. Bayern Munich have knocked out Arsenal at the very same stage of the competition last year, but the Gunners left the tournament after an impressive performance in Germany. This season Arsenal look much stronger, sitting second in the Premier League table and already through to the FA Cup quarter finals. Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has revealed his respect for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger before the match. "My opinion on Arsene is that I have a lot of respect," Guardiola said. "His teams have his quality and I have to admire the quality of my opponents. We are going to play one team that has all the season been up (leading the league), so now they are third or second in the league, but in the beginning they were there. It is a typical team that always puts in a good performance in the Champions League. The last eight, nine or 10 years they have been in the Champions League and they are a special team with Cazorla, Ozil, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey. They always have good midfield players, with combinations. You have to be good in both sides in our defensive movements and try to understand their game." Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 13 home matches, with 10 wins and 3 draws. Bayern are also in top form, they have won their last nine matches in all competitions and bagged an impressive 28 goals in those nine fixtures. Arsenal German defender Per Mertesacker says the Gunners would need two perfect games to get past Bayern. "We have to go for two perfect games against them. We know we can beat them now, so maybe mentally we are in a better condition that last year," Mertesacker said. "We want to achieve something exceptional this season, so we have to beat the best. That is not only Manchester City and Chelsea. That is Bayern Munich in the Champions League." Here are the odds at Bet365 for Wednesday's clash: Arsenal win - 4/1 Draw - 3/1 Bayern Munich win - 3/4