Markus Babbel: Arsenal Are Not Better Than Last Year to Face Bayern

Former Liverpool defender Markus Babbel believes Arsenal will not create any problems for Bayern Munich as he claims the Gunners are "not better than last year."

Arsene Wenger's side host the Champions League winners for the first leg of the Round of 16 tie at the Emirates on Wednesday. The two clubs met each other last year during the same time of the year, only for Bayern to progress on away goals as the two-legged tie ended in a 3-3 draw.

Babbel, who moved to Anfield from Bayern believes Arsenal's record against big clubs in the Premier League shows Wenger's men are unlikely to create any trouble to the treble winners in progressing to the last eight of the Champions League.

"They [Arsenal] are not better than last year and have many injuries. If Bayern remain concentrated, Arsenal will not be problem. You see it in the Premier League: against the big teams they often lose," Goal.com quoted Babbel as saying.

The north London club will be without the services of their star midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who is sidelined due to injury. Olivier Giroud could lead the Gunner's strike force for Wednesday's tie against Bayern.

Babbel went on to praise Arsenal's German players Lukas Podolski, central defender Per Mertesacker and the club's record signing Mesut Ozil.

"[Podolski] surprises me. I haven't given him the credit he deserves for the success he's had in England. Honestly, I thought he was too lazy at Bayern Munich and Koln, but he has emerged. When he is on the pitch, he is on fire," the former Liverpool defender said.

"[Mertesacker] is held in unbelievably high esteem at Arsenal because he fights for his spot in the team. At the beginning, his performance was not exactly brilliant. But he never gave up. That impresses British fans. Now he is the captain of the team and should extend his contract. Hats off!"

"He's [Ozil] had to progress his body tension," added the former Liverpool defender. "The British fans always want to see full power. In footballing terms he is superb, no doubt," he concluded.