When Arsenal somehow managed to win their Champions League group, with Paris St Germain in second, fans very astutely recognised that the north London side could still be punished in the next round.
And so it was, that when the balls were drawn and the teams matched up, like magnets, Arsenal and Bayern Munich could not be separated.
We'll play @FCBayern (AGAIN!) in the last 16 of the @ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/2j4Iio570K
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) December 12, 2016
It’s safe to say the German team saw the funny side.
.@Arsenal @ChampionsLeague Hello again! 🖐 #FCBARS pic.twitter.com/pl0IpnlIFt
— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) December 12, 2016
Manuel Neuer seemed happy. (The below roughly translates to “meet good friend”, by the way).
Treffen guter Bekannter #ucl #FCBARS @MesutOzil1088 pic.twitter.com/x0DxnK8N65
— Manuel Neuer (@Manuel_Neuer) December 12, 2016
Arsenal fans… not so much.
When you finish top of your group and still draw Bayern Munich... #UCLdrawpic.twitter.com/n8dYpGrV2k
— BigSport (@BigSportGB) December 12, 2016
3 - Arsenal have been eliminated from all three of their Champions League knockout ties against Bayern Munich (2005, 2013, 2014). Haunted.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 12, 2016
It’s all a bit boring for some.
Arsenal's recurring Champions League draws. Shockingly boring (@behnisch) pic.twitter.com/VXmAzihbSK
— Hassan (@ClassofBergkamp) December 12, 2016
150 - If they conducted the Champions League draw another 150 times, Arsenal would still get Bayern Munich every time. Luck.
— OptaJoke (@OptaJoke) December 12, 2016
Drawing five-time European Cup winners is no reward.
That's what you get for winning your group @Arsenal . A nice easy tie with @FCBayernEN
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) December 12, 2016
But all things considered, could now be a good time to play Bayern?
By far Arsenal's best chance of beating Bayern in all this time. Almost favourites. Barca and PSG should be banned from meeting.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) December 12, 2016
Probably not. Then again…
Leicester won the league
— Danny Welbeck (@WelBeast) December 12, 2016
Brexit happened
Donald Trump was elected US President
Time for Arsenal to knock out Bayern Munich. #Believe.
…it wouldn’t be the weirdest thing to have happened in the last 12 months.
