Arsene Wenger has told his Arsenal players to “make history” after hopes of a favourable Champions League draw were extinguished with a dreaded rematch against Bayern Munich.
Wenger must face the German heavyweights for the fourth time in five seasons as he bids to finally reach the quarter-finals and end his frustration in Europe’s elite competition.
Arsenal were confident of avoiding a superpower after finishing as winners of Group A but they have suffered another nightmare draw, with the Bundesliga champions tweeting ‘Hello again’, with a clip from the film ‘Groundhog Day’.
Five days before the draw had even taken place, Bayern Munich’s official Twitter account had suggested that a repeat fixture was inevitable and Arsenal’s worst fears were confirmed at the draw in Nyon, Switzerland.
Arsenal will attempt to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in seven seasons after losing to teams including Barcelona (twice), AC Milan and Bayern Munich (twice).
But Wenger is in defiant mood and insists their misery at the round of 16 stage has to end sooner or later.
“We are all here to change history and to make history, so we have to change what happened before and make it better,” he said.
“In the last six years we have not come over the last-16 and they say that God made the world in seven days, so this is the seventh day for us. So we have to get our special day.
“This time the advantage we have is that we play first away from home. If we can keep our strength away from home that will help us to think – ‘let’s have a good first game and then you can finish the job at home’.
“I must tell you, the best way to have momentum is when we go into the Champions League to be in a very strong position in the league, so that the belief is high. I am convinced that is absolutely vital because I have the experience of it.”
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