Was always going to be Bayern. It was them that destroyed us so spectacularly when we were last in this competition in 2017. The Harry Kane factor too. I'm not feeling bullish but I'm not of the belief there's a great big gap between us and them either. I think it'll be quite tight and go one way or the other. We are due one over them as well. They've knocked us out in 2005, 2013, 2014, 2017....our last three games were 5-1 to Bayern. This group of players didn't suffer any of that but the fans and some members of staff dotted around the club did. Arteta lent into a period of time that went against us for inspiration against Porto despite not being at fault for any of it and I think he'll do it again for this tie. Not concerned or bothered about the potential semi final. Beat Bayern first.
The asterisks play like they did against us against Real and they're out. Arsenal will never have a better chance to beat Bayern. With Tuchel in charge of them they're infinitely beatable.
Not too sure what to think with our upcoming tie with Barca. Yes they're much weaker than when they dramatically knocked us out 7 years ago but if there was ever an opponent I wouldn't bare bowing out to it would be them. Not a big fan of hosting in the 1st leg although I reckon no Nou Camp in the return could do us good. Stupid guys on Twitter already sending us to the final. Never put it past us to balls things up whoever we play. Atletico in the semi (it should be them, Dortmund are massively punching above their weight) would be extremely tough to beat. Of the other two ties, I'm looking forward to Arsenal/Bayern. This is the 4th time we're having a Real/City tie in the past 5 campaigns so it's getting on a bit. Arsenal should progress against Bayern. Should.
And that's exactly why I'm dreading this Arsenal tie. The last time I feared Arsenal, the likes of Sol Campbell, Tony Adams, Freddy Ljungberg, Robert Pires and Ray Parlour were playing for them, not to mention David Seaman, Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Nwankwo Kanu.
Arsenal are a better team than Bayern at the moment. Experience and the second leg being in Munich probably balances the tie out a little but I'm ultimately expecting Arsenal to progress. Maybe Bayern being underdogs for a change will suit them though.
I'm torn. A big part of me wants to ride the wave of confidence around our team at the moment and hope to see a real 'are you paying attention yet?' type performance to the rest of Europe. And then I think about how Bayern make chances for fun. I think about their pedigree in Europe. I think about the Harry Kane narrative. And then I flip again and think about our defensive strength! I can't shake this feeling that we're going to really damage them in the first leg. Martinelli on the break, over and over again.
