Arsene Wenger uses stat nav to plot Arsenal's way past Bayern Munich

There is, however, clear evidence Arsenal have improved. They took more Premier League points than any other team in 2013 and, despite suffering two heavy reverses on the road, at home they have been nearly impenetrable.

Steven Gerrard’s penalty in Sunday’s 2-1 victory against Liverpool was the first goal Arsenal have conceded in 695 minutes on their own patch. Since being beaten by Chelsea in October’s Capital One Cup clash, the Gunners have played 13 home games and kept 11 clean sheets, conceding only twice.

Defensive stoicism will be required from the outset. Koscielny and Per Mertesacker’s record of never having lost when both completing 90 minutes may have ended after 32 matches at Anfield but they remain the bedrock of Arsenal’s three-pronged assault on silverware; it was noticeable that amid the seven changes Wenger made in the FA Cup, the pair remained ensconced at centre-back, albeit it partly because of a training ground setback for Thomas Vermaelen.

All three started against Bayern last year but Arsenal were yet to develop the defensive cohesion they have shown regularly this season.

“They have developed very well, they complement each other, they play many games together now and I think that helps as well,” said Wenger.

“Overall they have shown, through the statistics, they are a very reliable pair in the centre of defence. This is another good opportunity to show it again in the game tonight against a team with a very strong offensive potential. But I am sure we will do well.”

Jack Wilshere is set to return to the heart of midfield because of Mikel Arteta’s suspension, while Mathieu Flamini and Mesut Ozil — other new factors compared to last season — are likely to start.

“The centre-backs give us a platform and as well we have Flamini in midfield,” said Wilshere. “Arteta has been great. He lets more attacking players go forward and you have to remember that at Everton he was a No10, he used to go forward, so he has changed his game.

“Flamini loves that side of the game, running around and tackling. They give us a good basis to go from.”

Olivier Giroud started last season’s match on the bench, with Wenger preferring Lukas Podolski; the contrasting roles of those two players a year on is further evidence of Arsenal’s evolution. But they remain underdogs to progress. It will require an almighty effort over the two legs to reach the quarter-finals but at least Arsenal can approach the tie in a better “mental state”, as Wenger put it, with an FA Cup quarter-final and title challenge to come.

Bayern already pressed the ball with great intensity prior to Pep Guardiola’s arrival but the aggression with which they attempt to win the ball has increased.

The loss of Franck Ribery and his likely replacement, Xherdan Shaqiri, will do little to nullify their threat.

“They play a bit higher up, maybe, as a unit,” said Wenger. “Overall they have the same players. They do not have [Bastian] Schweinsteiger, he is coming back and has been replaced by Thiago [Alcantara], a more Spanish-type player. But the basics are the same.”

Wenger needs something to change.