Arsenal will have one apparent edge when they take on Bayern Munich in the opening leg of their Champions League quarterfinal.

Journalist James McNicholas has noted one boost Arsenal will have when Bayern Munich come to the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners secured entry to the quarterfinals of Europe’s best club competition for the first time in 14 years as David Raya’s penalty shootout heroics earned them a win over Porto.

Mikel Arteta’s side will now face Bayern Munich in the last eight of the competition. Despite the German giants’ prestige, the north London club will fancy their chances heading into this meeting. Bayern Munich have not been at their best this season and look doomed to miss out on the Bundesliga title, as Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen presently have a ten-point lead at the top of the league with just eight games left to play.

Arsenal, however, are in blazing form themselves. They are currently at the top of the Premier League standings and have won eight games on the bounce in the competition since the turn of the year.

Before Arsenal had gotten past Porto, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher stated that Arsenal would beat Bayern Munich if they were to be drawn against them in the Champions League this season.

The Gunners will now have an opportunity to prove the pundit right. Arsenal will also be anxious to get revenge on the Bavarian outfit, who have inflicted a number of devastating defeats upon them in the past.

The first leg of this match will be played at the Emirates Stadium on April 9th. No Bayern Munich fans will be inside the Arsenal stadium on that night, though. As reported by the BBC, the German club will not be able to send any of their own supporters to north London as a result of UEFA fines after Bayern Munich fans threw pyrotechnics onto the pitch during their last meeting with Lazio.

McNicholas believes that Arsenal ought to make the most of this circumstance. Speaking on the Arsecast Extra podcast, the reporter added, “The lack of away fans could be a real benefit for Arsenal… Arsenal are going to be selling those tickets; that’s the plan. 60,000 gooners might be a fantastic night. It will need to be right, because that’s the first leg.”

Arteta called for the Arsenal fans to build a rowdy environment for the visit of Porto. The Spanish coach would definitely expect the same excitement from the stands when Bayern Munich travels to town. This time, though, the only voices that will be heard will be Arsenal supporters.