Bayern Munich vs Arsenal as it happened: Carlo Ancelotti's side smash five past sorry Gunners

Re-live updates from the Champions League last-16 first leg at the Allianz Arena

Thiago celebrates scoring Bayern's third goal of the night after Lewandowski's superb backheel (Getty)

Arsenal are looking to end their run of six straight Champions League last-16 exits but face an almighty task once again as they take on Bayern Munich, having been knocked out of the competition by the German heavyweights twice in the last five seasons. Follow the latest here.

• Bayern Munich vs Arsenal kicks off at 19:45 GMT
• Arsenal without Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey
• Arsene Wenger confirms David Ospina will start in place of Petr Cech
• Bayern missing Jerome Boateng and Franck Ribery but Xabi Alonso fit

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Preview...

Since winning the Champions League in 2013 Bayern Munich have reached three semi-finals in a row. With three-time winner at the forefront, Carlo Ancelotti, they will be confident of going one better this season but will have to overcome Arsenal first.

Having met Bayern in the last-16 twice over the last five seasons, Arsenal are yet to lose in Munich when it comes to the knockout stage, winning 2-0 in 2012/13 and drawing 1-1 a year later. The German side this time around will be eager to set the record straight and get off to an encouraging start in this two-legged affair.

However, the pair did meet in last season's group stage, where Bayern inflicted a heavy 5-1 defeat on Arsenal in Bavaria.

With the pressure mounting, an away trip to Bayern Munich for the fourth consecutive season is not ideal for Arsene Wenger. But a win of this magnitude would certainly offer some kind of reprieval for Arsenal’s long-serving boss.

What is sure to be a hotly-contested affair could also be Arsenal’s season-defining fixture. With the Premier League seeming to be out of their grasps, a win against Munich on Wednesday evening may just salvage their season and Wenger’s job.

What time does it start?

Bayern Munich vs Arsenal kicks off at 19:45pm (GMT)

Where can I watch it?

The game will be broadcasted live on BT Sport 2/BT Sport 2 HD.

It’s a big game for…

Alexis Sanchez: The 28-year-old has featured 22 times this season for Arsenal and has a return of 16 goals and nine assists. He has been Arsenal’s go to man this season and no doubt come Wednesday evening they’ll be reliant on the Chilean forward to make something happen again. If Arsenal are to save their season they need some kind of result and Sanchez’s role in that will be pivotal.

Best stat…

If Arsenal are to progress through to the quarter-final they’ll have to overcome a European hoodoo as the Gunners have never beaten the German giants over two legs in the knockout stages of Europe's leading competition.

Remember when…

Bayern Munich beat Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates stadium in 2013.

Player to watch…

Robert Lewandowski: Bayern’s Polish striker is yet again having another exceptional season with 21 goals in 30 games. Five of those 21 goals have come in the Champions League this season and the 28-year-old will be looking to add to his goal tally on Wednesday evening. Arsenal’s defence will need to be at their best if they’re to keep Lewandowski quiet and out of the headlines.

Lewandowski is in red-hot form again this season (Getty)

Past three-meetings…

Bayern Munich 5 Arsenal 1, Champions League, November 2015

Arsenal 2 Bayern Munich 0, Champions League, October 2015

Bayern Munich 1 Arsenal 1, Champions League, March 2014

Form guide…

Bayern Munich: WWWWDW

Arsenal: WWWLLW

Odds…

Bayern Munich to win: 12/25

Arsenal to win: 6/1

Draw: 7/2

(Odds provided by 888 Sport)

[15 February 2017 17:46 · Jack de Menezes]

Good evening and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of the Champions League last-16 first leg between Bayern Munich and Arsenal as the two sides meet for the fourth time in five seasons.

Arsenal have never managed to beat Bayern over two legs, with the Bavarian side knocking the Gunners out of Europe at the last-16 stage in both 2012/13 and 2013/14, as well as topping their group when they met during last season's competition.

However, Arsenal have one positive falling in their favour this time around, given that they managed to top their group - even though it contained French giants Paris Saint-Germain - while Bayern were only able to finish in second as they lost out to Atletico Madrid.

Follow all the action live with the match kicking off at 19:45 GMT, and we will also keep you up-to-date from the evening's other encounter between Real Madrid and Napoli.

[15 February 2017 17:47 · Jack de Menezes]

Who will win today's Champions League last-16 first leg?

[15 February 2017 17:55 · Jack de Menezes]

[15 February 2017 18:10 · Jack de Menezes]

[15 February 2017 18:30 · Jack de Menezes]

[15 February 2017 18:40 · Jack de Menezes]

[15 February 2017 18:43 · Evan Bartlett]

Team news

Bayern Munich: Neuer, Lahm, Hummels, Martínez, Alaba, Xabi Alonso, Vidal, Robben, Thiago, Costa, Lewandowski

Subs: Ulreich, Rafinha, Bernat, Muller, Coman, Kimmich, Sanches

Arsenal: Ospina, Gibbs, Bellerin, Koscielny, Mustafi, Coquelin, Xhaka, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Iwobi, Sanchez

Subs: Cech, Gabriel, Giroud, Walcott, Monreal, Welbeck, Elneny

Ozil starts...

There had been some suggestion that an out-of-form Mesut Ozil may be dropped for tonight's game, but after showing his support in the build-up, Arsene Wenger has stuck by his man. The German will line-up as part of a three behind Alexis Sanchez - alongside Alex Iwobi and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Elsewhere, Granit Xhaka returns to the midfield after his four-game suspension and, as expected, David Ospina keeps his place in goal.

For Bayern, there's no place for Thomas Muller who has only scored one league goal this term. But if Arsenal's defenders were breathing a sigh of relief at his exclusion then the sight of Robert Lewandowski, Arjen Robben and Douglas Costa might be cause for a sharp intake of breath.

[15 February 2017 18:50 · Jack de Menezes]

[15 February 2017 19:00 · Jack de Menezes]

[15 February 2017 19:06 · Evan Bartlett]

Robben the redemption man

While the teams get warmed up, stick the kettle on and have a read of this interview with Arjen Robben.

The 33-year-old Dutchman spoke to our Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney ahead of kick-off where he discussed his Champions League redemption, revealed why he'd rather play Leicester City than Arsenal tonight and insisted he's not yet finished with Europe's elite competition...