Arsenal vs. Bayern and the Most Mouthwatering Champions League Last-16 Clashes
The Champions League draw on Monday threw up a number of intriguing Last 16 clashes, with the meeting of Arsenal and Bayern Munich for the second year running among the most mouth-watering of the clashes drawn.
Besides that clash, the meeting of 2011 winners Barcelona and high-spenders Manchester City will also offer an intriguing insight into both sides' current status within the ranks of Europe's elite.
With six other games to choose from, there is plenty on offer for football fans to enjoy and a number of storylines to whet the appetite ahead of the encounters themselves.
Which, then, are the most mouth-watering ties of the draw?
Full list of fixtures:
Manchester City–Barcelona
Olympiacos–Manchester United
AC Milan–Atletico Madrid
Bayer Leverkusen–Paris Saint-Germain
Galatasaray–Chelsea
Schalke–Real Madrid
Zenit St. Petersburg–Borussia Dortmund
Arsenal–Bayern Munich
Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich
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Last season's encounter between the two sides almost derailed Bayern's successful Champions League campaign before the knockout stages had even truly got going, with only away goals saving the Bavarians an embarrassing defeat.
Losing to Arsenal is, of course, no disgrace, but Bayern had been entirely dominant in winning 3-1 at the Emirates and were shell-shocked at the Gunners' response in Munich—a game the visitors won 2-0.
Arsenal are in much better shape this time around, but face a Bayern side who could potentially be crowned world champions within the next seven days.
At present, both sides lie astride their respective divisions and both have secured major victories in the Champions League this season, having come through groups containing Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City respectively. Pep Guardiola's side, though, will be clear favourites.
The Germans are a complete side who have shown few weaknesses over the past two seasons, with a dominant defence and a lethal attack—as shown by their astonishing records in both areas domestically per Soccerway.
While Arsenal appear stronger than they have in several defeats against a plethora of big-name opponents suggest there is still defensive weakness that Bayern can exploit. With the likes of Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud firing in attack, however, can the Gunners shock their much fancied opponents?
AC Milan vs. Atletico Madrid
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Thanks to AC Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari there could be real niggle to the otherwise unremarkable fixture between the Rossoneri and La Liga high-flyers Atletico Madrid.
The Ghanaian midfielder's comments ahead of the draw, as reported by Goal.com, have provoked a response from Spain, having labelled Atletico as his side's weakest possible opponent.
Diego Simeone's side are anything but weak, though, with Atletico currently level on points with La Liga leaders Barcelona as they continue their rise of recent years.
The same, sadly, cannot be said of Muntari's Milan. The Rossoneri are currently 10th in Serie A and a far cry from the side that regularly challenged for Champions League glory a few years ago. However, they will not be taken lightly.
Milan still have the potential to hurt any side in Europe and showed as much with their Group Stage performance—including holding Barca to 1-1 at the San Siro.
Atletico, though, are flying and in Diego Costa have one of Europe's most feared attacking players heading a team ever more confident of their own ability.
Manchester City vs. Barcelona
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It had threatened to be a match built around the prospect of Sergio Aguero taking on compatriot Lionel Messi, but the reports of the former facing eight weeks on the sidelines, per the Mirror, throw that match-up into jeopardy.
However, the contest as a whole carries special importance with regard to the two sides involved. Barcelona have been the biggest name in European football for several years. Man City, meanwhile, have ambition and means to succeed them on the throne.
Up until the current campaign, City have struggled to carry their league successes into European competition. For the first time, they are now past the Group Stage and ready to challenge the established elite.
But, just how far can the Citizens go in this year's competition? The game with Barcelona will be a major indication of their prospects. They have looked dominant in key domestic wins over Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham, but there have also been disappointments—largely away from home.
A trip to the Camp Nou will reveal much about their preparedness to challenge and also of Barcelona's own state under Tata Martino. Are the Catalan side still the force that struck fear into the hearts of sides Europe-wide for half a decade?
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Paris Saint-Germain
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Another team with much to prove about their Champions League pedigree are PSG, whose strong debut showing last season makes them one of the most feared sides remaining in this year's competition.
Led by the magnificent Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Parisiens scared Barcelona in the 2012-13 quarterfinal and sent out a real message that they are here to stay as a major force in European football.
Their first knockout test this year will be Germans Bayer Leverkusen, who are performing well domestically but showed weakness in two comprehensive Group Stage defeats to Manchester United.
They have quality in their ranks in the likes of Son Heung-Min and Lars Bender, making them a potentially problematic opponent. PSG, though, will be expected to dismiss them convincingly if they are to be considered contenders for the main prize this year.
Life will be tougher for Laurent Blanc and his side. They are now feared by opponents who will approach them with greater caution, while the rise of a cash-rich Monaco domestically has also complicated matters on other fronts.
Leverkusen are a real test of their credentials and Blanc's side must send out a real message in victory if they are to be respected as a contender by the continent's best sides.
The dynamics at play for PSG and their potential role in the development of the Champions League football over coming years make it an intriguing clash, with Leverkusen the standard by which the current French champions can be judged.
