Nothing could separate Mikel Arteta's men and Porto at the end of 210 minutes of last-16 action, but the Gunners held their nerve from 12 yards to end their streak of seven successive eliminations at the first knockout hurdle.
A handful of those exits have come at the hands of perennial German champions Bayern, who got the better of Lazio 3-1 in their last-16 battle, but Thomas Tuchel's men are on the verge of ceding their Bundesliga crown to Bayer Leverkusen.
Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at the head-to-head record and previous meetings between the two sides.
Head-to-head record
Previous meetings: 12
Arsenal wins: 3
Draws: 2
Bayern wins: 7
While Gooners were sick of the sight of Bayern Munich during the last knockings of Arsene Wenger's reign, the North London faithful should only be too happy to welcome the faltering German champions to their 60,000-seater home, especially with no away fans permitted to attend the first leg.
Seven years ago, though, the Bavarian faithful rejoiced in an emphatic 10-2 aggregate beating of Arsenal in the last 16 of the 2016-17 Champions League, the Gunners' most recent appearance in Europe's top tournament before returning to the high table for 2023-24.
Both legs of that last-16 tie saw Bayern run out 5-1 victors, the same scoreline that the German powerhouses posted during a 2015-16 group battle at the Allianz Arena, and all three represent Arsenal's joint-heaviest losses in Champions League history.
Furthermore, the most recent 5-1 humiliation at the Emirates Stadium still represents Arsenal's worst-ever defeat at their new home, and Bayern arrive in the English capital with seven wins from their 12 meetings overall, in comparison to just three Gunners triumphs.
The last of Arsenal's three successes did come on British shores in October 2015, though, as Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil registered in a 2-0 group-stage success before the 5-1 crushings commenced, and Bayern also dumped Arsenal out of the tournament in the 2012-13 and 2013-14 last 16.
The Gunners' one saving grace in those years was a 2-0 triumph at the Allianz Arena in March 2013 - their solitary competitive win away at Bayern to date - prior to which Wenger's men prevailed 1-0 at Highbury in 2005 courtesy of a Thierry Henry strike.
However, Bayern had already taken a 3-1 lead to North London from the first leg of their last-16 battle that year, and the two inaugural meetings in the 2000-01 group phase saw the Gunners throw away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 at home before losing 1-0 in Munich thanks to a Giovane Elber goal.
As a result, Arsenal must rewrite history and knock Bayern out of the Champions League for the first time if they are to prolong their quest for European silverware, but the Germans head to England having been beaten in their last two Champions League away games, and their hosts are no longer the same vulnerable team they faced all those years ago.
Previous meetings
Mar 07, 2017: Arsenal 1-5 Bayern (Champions League Round of 16)
Feb 15, 2017: Bayern 5-1 Arsenal (Champions League Round of 16)
Nov 04, 2015: Bayern 5-1 Arsenal (Champions League Group Stage)
Oct 20, 2015: Arsenal 2-0 Bayern (Champions League Group Stage)
Mar 11, 2014: Bayern 1-1 Arsenal (Champions League Round-Of-16)
Feb 19, 2014: Arsenal 0-2 Bayern (Champions League Round-Of-16)
Mar 13, 2013: Bayern 0-2 Arsenal (Champions League Round-of-16)
Feb 19, 2013: Arsenal 1-3 Bayern (Champions League Round-of-16)
Mar 9, 2005: Arsenal 1-0 Bayern (Champions League Round-of-16)
Feb 22, 2005: Bayern 3-1 Arsenal (Champions League Round-of-16)
Mar 14, 2001: Bayern 1-0 Arsenal (Champions League Group Stage)
Dec 7, 2000: Arsenal 2-2 Bayern (Champions League Group Stage)
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