Bayern Munich and Arsenal are already used to facing each other in the Europe’s elite competition as this will be the fourth time in a row they will be squaring off in the Champions League.

With three wins and a draw in past six meetings, the Bavarians appear to have the upper hand, but the Gunners will give their best to keep the tie alive for as long as possible.

Bayern Munich have enjoyed a great deal of success on domestic stage of late, but the sixth European Cup trophy has proved elusive in recent years.

With another Bundesliga trophy virtually in the bag, the Bavarians are shifting their focus towards the Champions League campaign, where they need to get past Arsenal to reach the last 8.

Having won last 15 UCL fixtures at their Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich have been made 1.50 (1/2) favourites to win the first leg at home.

Bayern also won 11 of last 12 matches in all competitions, but they are not playing on top of their game at the moment, and the Bavarians will have to show improvement if they want to see off Arsenal on Wednesday evening.

Carlo Ancelotti is expected to recall Douglas Costa and Arjen Robben to the starting line-up, but Franck Ribery and Jerome Boateng are out injured.

Both players should soon return into action, whereas Xabi Alonso will keep his place despite pulling out of training on Monday due to a blow to his knee.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Neuer – Lahm, Martinez, Hummels, Alaba – Vidal, Alonso – Robben, Thiago, Douglas Costa – Lewandowski.

Arsenal are in danger of seeing yet another promising season go to waste, and after they were all but eliminated from the Premier League title chase, the Gunners need to try and reach the Champions League closing stages.

This will be no easy task considering that mighty Bayern awaits Arsene Wenger’s charges in the last 16 stage, but let us not forget that Arsenal won at Allianz Arena back in 2013.

That did not prove enough for a place in the next stage following the 3-1 loss at the Emirates, but any positive result would be very welcome this time out.

Arsenal somehow managed to return to winning ways at the weekend with a big help from match officials, but at least they have ended a losing run.

Arsene Wenger will have Granit Xhaka back from a domestic suspension, while Danny Welbeck continues to get minutes under his belt after a lengthy absence.

David Ospina is expected to start after featuring in all six group stage games, but Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla remain sidelined.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Ospina – Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal – Elneny, Coquelin – Walcott, Ozil, Iwobi – Sanchez.