We thought this year might be different. How wrong we were. We thought this might be the year that Arsenal finally catch a break in the Champions League round of 16 and push through to the quarterfinals, ending a six-year round of 16 losing streak. We thought "surely they won't draw Bayern Munich again, that would be too cruel even for the soccer gods".
Arsenal drew Bayern Munich again.
We are not saying that Bayern Munich will definitely beat Arsenal and eliminate the Gunners in the round of 16. We are saying that Bayern Munich will probably beat Arsenal and eliminate the Gunners in the round of 16. In the last six seasons, all of which have seen Arsenal eliminated in the round of 16, Bayern have played (and eliminated) Arsenal twice in the round of 16.
Given Arsenal's recent history in the round of 16, plus the facts that Bayern Munich have better players and more money (plus a track record of making it past the round of 16 more often than Arsenal), we feel comfortable predicting a Bayern Munich victory.
Arsenal, we should point out, are a very good team and certainly capable of beating Bayern Munich in the round of 16. The problem for them is that, in addition to being a very good team, they are also Arsenal.
Fortunately, because they are Arsenal, they can look forward to finishing in the top four (but not first) in the Premier League this season and giving the Champions League another go next year.
