The Last 16 of the UEFA Champions League has not been kind to Arsenal over the last few years. In fact, Arsene Wenger has failed to guide his team past this stage in every attempt since way back in 2010.

Winning their group this time around, supporters were hoping that would land them an easier draw than they've enjoyed in recent seasons. Unluckily, the Gunners managed to be drawn against the best second-place finishers in recent memory.

Many people have written off Arsenal's trip to Bayern Munich this Wednesday night as a surefire defeat, but fear not Gunners fans - we're here to dispel that myth.

Of course it's going to be a tough ask and of course Bayern are good side, but let's not sell Wenger's boys short here, they're going to give it a good go.

Here are FIVE things that may ease anxious Arsenal fans ahead of the big match...

Sanchez is having a better season than any Bayern player

Bayern Munich boast one of the best strikers in world football in Robert Lewandowski but Arsenal have someone in even better form this season, Alexis Sanchez.

The Gunners forward has directly contributed to an incredible 30 goals in all competitions so far this term, 19 strikes and 11 assists.

It's those assists that put him above and beyond Lewandowski in terms of performance. The Polish striker may have banged in 23 goals for Bayern but with just two assists, he doesn't offer the same creative output as the Chilean.

As much as Arsenal fans fear Lewandowski, Bayern fans should fear Sanchez. If the red hot Arsenal man can reach peak form then his side are always going to have a fighting chance of getting a result.

Bayern aren't as good as they've been in the past

Yes, Bayern Munich are very good and you can't deny they're having a fine season given they are currently sitting top of Bundesliga, seven points ahead of RB Leipzig. However, they are not the imperious force that they were under Pep Guardiola.

They're winning but not in same style. Take their last seven games for example; five of those have been wins and two have been draws. Of those five wins, four have been won by just a single goal. They've only kept two clean sheets too, proving that this side has defensive weaknesses.

When you compare it to the way Guardiola's team blitzed through opponents, then it's clear this is not the unbeatable Bayern side many have pitched them as in the run-up to Wednesday night's match.

Arsenal have been superb in Europe this year

Arsenal's form in Europe this season has been excellent. They're currently undefeated, something you can't say of Bayern who were humbled by Atletico Madrid and FC Rostov.

A big away result to Paris Saint-Germain shows that Wenger's side have the quality to produce something against the elite sides in Europe.

What's more, Arsenal have scored at least two goals in five of their six Champions League matches so far this season. That stands them in good stead to travel to Munich and at least get an away goal.

The fact they play at home in the second leg is an advantage in that regard - nick an away goal and barring a complete collapse they have every chance of picking up the result needed to go through.

Thomas Muller is off his game

Thomas Muller's overall record at Bayern Munich is undeniable. Scoring at least 20 goals for the club in each of the last four seasons, he's been an incredible goal threat.

This season that record isn't quite being maintained and the German international has scored just one goal in the Bundesliga.

Given he scored two goals against the Gunners last time the two teams faced off, his lack of goals this season is a real positive for Arsene Wenger's side.

It can't be as bad as last time

Last season's 5-1 disaster in Munich gave Gunners fans nightmares and is probably the main cause of anxiety heading into Wednesday's match.

Surely though, surely even if all the other points in our list are knocked down, at least whatever happens on Wednesday won't be that bad for Arsenal.

In that sense Wenger's side don't really have much to lose and they'll be out for a revenge of sorts, hoping to show they are much better than that dismal performance. Perhaps it's the catalyst needed to put in a performance that gets them through to the quarter-finals.