It's Arsenal against Bayern in the Champions League. We feel like we’ve been here before. It always ends in a certain way, Arsene Wenger’s future gets questioned, Arsenal are applauded for nearly overturning a first-leg deficit and then they return to their routine of crumbling domestically. That’s how the narrative goes, anyway.

Twitter jollies and collective groans from north London have aided the hilarity of these two facing each other once again. With Arsenal playing away at Sutton United in the cup after this, the Gunners could be in for a week from hell. Or it could be a week of pure joy and Wenger reinstates himself as an icon amongst the fans.

While half the footballing world (more like a minute proportion) have been chatting about Gary Neville’s debate with Arsenal Fan TV, the Gunners themselves have been preparing for a match that could define their campaign.

Beating Bayern is not something Arsenal are exactly accustomed to, so we thought it might be nice to give them a few pointers…

Formation – 4-3-3

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Change and Arsene Wenger are not two things that naturally go hand in hand. That said, Wenger must at least adapt for this match. He failed to against Chelsea and it cost him, after all. Wenger must make alterations to Arsenal’s approach if the Gunners are to avoid another infamous, repetitive last 16 exit from Europe.

One of which should see a 4-3-3 used. Bayern will dominate possession and Arsenal need an extra body centrally. Rather than looking to challenge the Bundesliga leaders at their own game, Arsenal can absorb the pressure and spring fast counter-attacks through the pace of Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Lucas Perez.

Defensively they can cope with sitting deeper, Granit Xhaka can distribute from in front of the backline, and the energy of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Mohamed Elneny will help to close midfield passing lanes.

Bayern's Weakness – Runners Behind

With Jerome Boateng absent, Bayern’s defence is left in the trustworthy hands of Mats Hummels and Javi Martinez. As good as the pair are, they are vulnerable to pace, and with Bayern pushing high up the pitch, there will be room for Arsenal’s forwards to exploit.

The Gunners must be willing to move the ball directly into spaces behind the German club’s defence, sacrificing their pass accuracy percentage and perhaps losing possession more than they would like to create a few vital one-on-ones.

Dangerman: Thomas Muller

In an under-performing Bayern side, Muller has been far from his best this season. Despite scoring only a handful of goals thus far, the German still cannot be overlooked. While Robert Lewandowski and Arjen Robben will attract a lot of attention, Muller is the man for the biggest games and will, as any Chelsea fan will tell you, pop up in goalscoring spaces when least expected.

A quietened season for Muller should not distract from the fact that he is the player Bayern rely on on such occasions. A star-studded squad may have quality all over, but few have performed on the greatest stages with such reliability as Muller.

Arsenal’s key threat: Alexis Sanchez

There is no doubt that Alexis Sanchez is Arsenal’s dangerman. Their top scorer, a livewire in the final third and a talismanic figure, the Chilean is the player that Bayern Munich and Carlo Ancelotti will fear over anyone else.

While Mesut Ozil will be carefully watched as one of the world’s best creators if he features, it is the goal threat that Alexis offers that will worry the Bavarians most. He is more than a striker, more than a winger, he is Arsenal’s star. Their chances of success rest on his shoulders.