Arjen Robben: Arsenal are under pressure, but Champions League draw will be 'toughest' yet for Bayern Munich

Tom Doyle14 December 2016

Arjen Robben believes that Arsenal are stronger than last season and will offer Bayern Munich their toughest battle yet after being drawn together in the Champions League knockout stages once again.

The Gunners' reward for topping their group was a tie against the Bavarian giants as Arsene Wenger's men bid to end a string of six successive last-16 exits from Europe's top competition.

History is on Bayern's side. The Bundesliga side knocked them out in the last 16 in the 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons as well as getting the better of them in last season's group stage.

Bayern won 5-1 at home and topped the pool by six points, even though Arsenal won their Emirates meeting 2-0.

But Arsenal have impressed domestically and in Europe this term, beating Paris Saint-Germain to top spot in their Champions League group as Bayern finished behind Atletico Madrid, and Robben is ready for a real test.

"We've played them a few times over the last few years and always won - we always got through to the next round - but maybe this one will be the toughest one so far," he said in an interview with ESPN FC.

The teams who have qualified for the Champions League knockout round

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"We have happy memories [from past meetings], but happy memories don't take you to the next round.

"They are a very strong team - even stronger than last year. They're doing very well in the Premier League."

The Dutchman added: "For them, the pressure is to make it to the quarter-final for the first time in many years.

"Our target is always the final. But this draw doesn't make it easy [for either team]."

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