So, thanks to the (ex-Chelsea, just sayin')hands of Ruud Gullit in Monday's UEFA draw, Arsenal will play Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the Champions League... again.
On the off-chance that you live in a cave (as one particularly infamous allegedGunners fan did), here's a brief reminder of why these turn of eventsare funny/devastating/brutal/inevitable/funny:
1. Four in Four
This is the fourth time in four years that Arsene Wenger's side have been drawn up against the Bavarians in the Champions League.
Last season, the Gunners may havesuccumbed to Barcelona in the knockouts, butthey faced Bayern twice in the group stages,while in 2013/14 and 2012/13 they were promptlyeliminated by Germany's finest in the first knockout round.
To rub salty fate into the wounds, it's now officially the most repeated fixture in Champions League knockouthistory...
4 “ For the 4th time @FcBayern_EN faces @Arsenal in the @ChampionsLeague 1/8 finals.No other matchup happened more often than twice. Repeat. pic.twitter.com/TpC9VDNtzW
2. Carlo Ancelotti
The man standing between Arsenal and safe passage to the quarterfinals (for the first time since 2010) is one Carlo Ancelotti.
As if Bayern needed any strengthening since their last encounter with the Gunners, they now boastthe most successful coach in the history of the tournament.
Everyone's avuncular,fantasy uncle is the only man to have won three trophies and reached four finals.
Alexis Sanchez and co. can, however,take confidence from the fact thatthe Italian's side are have actually been more pregnable this year and andalready lost twice in the group stages -to Atletico Madrid and FC Rostov.
3. Fate
#Arsenal's last seven opponents in the last 16 of the Champions League #UCLdraw https://t.co/SEgmZJQWme pic.twitter.com/OPQ3Yx41Fw
With those two Group D, defeats Bayern qualified for the knockouts in only second place, meaning Arsenal's emphatic final day table-topping antics against Basle led them precisely into the fixture they bust a gut to avoid.
Amazingly, had Arsenal finished second they would've been drawn against Barcelona.
Someone up there really doesn't like Wenger much...
Anyone else have this feeling? @Arsenal #FCBARS #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/uMIeDOBK5B