Miracle is a word that is thrown around a little too often in our lives; because it rarely exists. However, if Arsenal were to find a way past Bayern Munich in the second leg of the Champions League and advance to the quarterfinals - that word would certainly be apt.
Everything is against Arsenal at the moment. Their team lack character and the basic idea of a defending. They are currently fifth in the English Premier League and face the real prospect of missing out on Champions League qualification - for the first time ever under Arsene Wenger.
Add to the woes, Jack Wilshere, the only bright spot in an otherwise nightmarish season, is ruled out against Bayern at the Allianz Arena.
The 2-1 loss in the North London Derby to Tottenham ten days ago showed one thing in spades that every Arsenal fan was aware of for a long time -Arsenal do not know how to defend.
Thomas Vermaelen looks a shadow of the player that burst into the Premier League scene a few years back, while Per Mertesacker just cannot cope with the pace of the Premier League.
Against Bayern, the duo will again be put to test; although Vermaelen will most likely move into the left-back position, if Wenger decides not to risk Kieran Gibbs, who is just returning from an injury, and Nacho Monreal cup-tied.
Arsenal cannot afford to give away goals if they are to stand any chance of advancing. They also need to score at least three goals - not even remotely easy considering Bayern have one of the best defensive records in Europe.
Olivier Giroud has been disappointing over the last couple of weeks, and Theo Walcott even more so. The England forward has gone missing one too many times in the big games and maybe it is time for him to show he is worth all that money that Arsenal forked out to keep him at the Emirates - a scintillating hat-trick would be very welcome indeed.
Lukas Podolski is sodelined along with Bacary Sagna, while Wojciech Szczesny has been rested, which leaves Wenger with plenty to ponder.
Bayern are not too happy in the injury department either, with Franck Ribery sidelined with an ankle injury he picked up at the weekend, while Bastian Schweinsteiger is suspended along with Jerome Boateng.
The last time the Gunners faced an almost impossible task of progressing in the Champions League, they came within a hair's breadth of performing a miracle - yes that word again -- against AC Milan in the same stage last season. That 3-0 win will suit them nicely this year though.
This Bayern team, however, are not Milan, with all due respect to the current Italian side. They are much better and arguably the best side in Europe at the moment.
The Germans were unlucky not to have won the Champions League last season and seem even more determined to right that wrong this year.
One thing can be guaranteed, the German league leaders will not come out complacent; they will be on their guard and will look to finish off the tie as soon as possible, and in the likes of Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos and Arjen Robben, they certainly have the weapons to put the game to bed sooner rather than later.
While Wenger has insisted his side still hold a chance, there is little to suggest that this Arsenal side possess the quality and wherewithal to pull off what would be one of the greatest comebacks in Champions League history.
But then the beautiful game is funny at times and can surprise you.
In many ways this has been the most disappointing season for Arsenal in the Wenger era; only one thing would turn that around - if the team were to shock Bayern and advance to the quarterfinals. That certainly would be a win for the ages and then some - but you wouldn't bet on it now would you....
Expected lineups: Bayern Munich: Neuer; Lahm, Van Buyten, Dante, Alaba; Gustavo, Martinez; Muller, Kroos, Robben; Mandzukic.
Arsenal: Mannone; Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla; Walcott, Giroud, Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Prediction: 2-1 to Bayern
