LONDON -- Arsene Wenger is hoping for some divine inspiration in the Champions League as Arsenal try to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2010.
The Gunners have been eliminated in the round of 16 in each of the last six years and face an uphill task again after drawing Bayern Munich as their opponents in the first knockout rounds for the third time in five seasons.
But Wenger, speaking before the draw was made, tried to make light of his team's recent history -- by making a Biblical reference.
"In the last six years we have not come over the last 16. And the target is [to do so]," Wenger said. "They say God made the world in seven days, so this is the seventh day for us. So we have to get our special day."
Arsenal's problem in recent years has often been their failure to win the group stage and being drawn against one of Europe's top teams in the round of 16. Aside from Bayern in 2013 and 2014, they faced Barcelona in 2011 and 2016. Now, just like in 2012 when they lost to AC Milan, they managed to win the group only to be drawn against a powerhouse nonetheless.
But Wenger hopes the fact that they will play the second leg at home will be decisive this time. So often in recent years, the Gunners have dug themselves a hole with a poor home performance in the first leg and come up just short when trying to erase a deficit in the away leg.
Last year they lost 2-0 to Barcelona at the Emirates and in 2015 they fell to a 3-1 defeat to Monaco and were eliminated on away goals, despite winning the second leg 2-0. That was an exact repeat of their results against Bayern in 2013, and Wenger admitted that his team haven't been smart enough in the first leg.
"We were many times, I must say, in a position when we played at home, we wanted to make the difference, and after 10 minutes we conceded a goal. And after you think already [it's over]," he said. "This time the advantage we have is that we play first away from home. If we can keep our strength away from home that will help us to think, let's have a good first game and then you can finish the job at home ... The year I feel we failed is against Monaco. Because we wanted to make the difference maybe too much in the first game. And even at 2-1, we conceded a third goal in the last minute of the game because we wanted absolutely to throw everything forward. And that's what we have to show that we have learned."
Another round of 16 exit would certainly damage the argument that Arsenal are making progress this year, having gone through the group stage undefeated and sitting second in the Premier League table.
But while Wenger admitted that a successful European campaign could boost the team's momentum in the domestic title fight, he said staying near the top of the Premier League until February will also help them against Bayern.
"The best way to have a momentum when we go into the Champions League is to be in a very strong position in the league, that the belief is high," he said. "I'm convinced that that is absolutely vital, because I have the experience of it."