The Champions League draw conducted on Thursday lined up a couple of mouth watering clashes with the two English clubs in Arsenal and Manchester United facing Bayern Munich and Real Madrid respectively.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was keen to avoid another showdown with Catalan giants Barcelona but the prospect of playing the 2012 Champions League finalists was not welcome either.
While speaking ahead of the draw, the Frenchman admitted admitted his desire was to avoid the Catalans and any German side.
“If I had a choice I would want to avoid Barcelona. Also, the German clubs have made a big, big leap forward. The Spanish clubs are traditionally there and in England we have a little deficit because usually at this level we have four but now we are only two.
“You have the French, Paris Saint-Germain, coming in, traditionally Porto are always in there. But especially I believe the Germans have improved.
Whilst admitting the Bavarians are clear favourites over the Gunners, Arsenal striker Lukas Podolski who spent three seasons at the Allianz Arena reckons his side still have a chance over the star studded Germany powerhouse.
“It’s a big club but we have the chance to win against Bayern Munich,’ said Podolski.
“They have a very good team with big players. They have [Mario] Gomez up front, they have [Franck] Ribery, [Bastian] Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm and Manuel Neuer. But both teams have the chance to win.
The first leg will be played at the Emirates on February 19th with the return leg taking place two weeks later at the Allianz Arena.