Bayern Munich vs Arsenal Preview: Gunners Must Show No Fear

It may look like an unassailable task tonight, with Bayern holding on to a massive away goal lead, but stranger things have happened in the world of football. Teams can look dead and buried - like Newcastle United did at the end of the first half a couple of seasons ago at 0-4 to Arsenal - but spirit and hope can drive on the most unlikely of victories - as it did for the Magpies who almost won it 5-4 right at the end of the game.

And that game was a Premier League fixture, in which Newcastle had only 45 minutes to make their comeback - tonight Arsenal have 90 minutes, and though the game is in Germany, and Bayern boast a formidable record, Wenger's men will be buoyed by the knowledge that other teams have overturned worse deficits in European history.

They will also probably take some hope from the fact that they have nothing to fear tonight in Munich - if they lose, they merely lose a game they were expected to come away with nothing from, and drawing will be seen as an admirable effort. But with victory the key, and a high-scoring victory at that, Arsenal will be forced to play as attacking and as free-flowing as they can, to take the game to the home team. That will require guts.

For his sins, Arsene Wenger is confident his side can come back, and reach the Champions League quarter-finals, but it won't be easy, with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, Jack Wilshere and Bacary Sanga all unavailable.

In the build up to the game Wenger said:

"It is difficult we know that, but it is not impossible. "The only way to make it possible is to have a real go - that's what we'll do. Turning up expecting to go out would be absolutely unacceptable for us."

Looking at their home record, and the lead they protect, Bayern might well look like a brick wall to Arsenal's fans and players, but they did show in the first leg that they aren't entirely infallible. Though he is a menace going forward, Philip Lahm can be badly exposed in defence, and it will be up to Wenger to hammer it into his quicker, more skilful players that the full-back is beatable when dribbling. And if Arsenal can have more discipline at the back than they showed two weeks ago at the Emirates, they might emerge with a more favourable result. Stopping Lahm from marauding down the wings, and more importantly stopping Tony Kroos from operating in the gap between Arsenal's defensive and midfield lines will be absolutely key. Those two were the major threats in the first leg, and they will have to be watched if Wenger wants to overturn the deficit. Wenger appears to be showing no signs of fear, which can only be a good sign for his team:

"We have big experience in the Champions League and in Europe we have basically won everywhere and that means we have the right to believe. "I am convinced that if this team can find a big game you will see a completely different animal. "This season we have fought to find that in the big games and we have another opportunity . I hope the team takes this chance. "I have a great respect for this team and its attitude and they have not been rewarded yet. "It is important for the end to our season that we do it."

Some might believe that a defeat tonight might see the end of Wenger's reign at Arsenal - albeit delayed until the end of the season - after a poor season all round, and with the side not currently in the top four, but it is not believed - at least according to the BBC - that his job is really under threat. Regardless of the result, Arsenal need a statement of intent tonight, and if they take to the pitch without fear, with the knowledge that this side is capable of results like the 7 goal destruction of Newcastle earlier this season, we might just see one of those famous European comebacks again. Quotes source: BBC Sport Do you think Arsenal can do it? Share your thoughts below.