Arjen Robben is generous in his assessment of Arsenal – but his words come with a sting in the tail.

Of all the momentous meetings between the north Londoners and Bayern Munich, this year's two-legged affair - which begins with Wednesday's collision in Germany - is, according to Robben, “the 50/50 one”; the one which is “going to be the most difficult”; the one where the Premier League club are “more dangerous”.

Bayern are, for once, playing the first leg at home - which should offer Arsenal an advantage. But then comes Robben's sting. “I don’t see a problem with that,” he says. “I’m always quite relaxed about it. It all depends on the first result. If we don’t concede, then I’m happy to go to London.”

The message is clear: Bayern expect to score at the Emirates. And no wonder. The ground has been a home from home in recent seasons, which may be one of the reasons Robben cuts such a relaxed figure as we chat in a side-room at the club’s Säbener Strasse complex, their leafy headquarters on the outskirts of Munich.

This will be the fourth time in five years that Bayern have faced Arsenal in the Champions League: in that period, Arsenal have won just twice and Bayern have at least reached the semi-finals. Arsenal, meanwhile, have failed to make the last eight since 2010.