Arsenal went into their Champions League match at home to Montpellier HSC in 2012 aware that three points at the Emirates Stadium could earn them a spot in the knockout stages of the competition.
Despite picking up just a point in their two fixtures with group leaders Schalke 04, the Gunners remained in second position, while the French outfit were languishing at the bottom. In the other match on the night, Schalke hosted Olympiacos, and a win for the German team could assist Arsenal's chances of progression.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's starting lineup for the evening almost picked itself, with the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Andrey Arshavin taking their place on the substitutes' bench.
The Premier League side had opened up their European campaign with a 2-1 victory in France that should have given them the edge over their opponents, who were struggling domestically after a fairytale season in 2011-12, but the visitors matched Arsenal well during an opening 45 minutes of little action.
Wojciech Szczesny flapped at a teasing delivery from the right, while the Polish stopper had to be alert to produce a timely block after Anthony Mounier appeared to be clean through on goal.
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But after a slow start, Arsenal slowly began to establish a bit of rhythm in the match, and after Laurent Koscielny had struck the woodwork with a powerful header, Lukas Podolski sent back-to-back efforts wide of the post.
With Olympiacos still level against Schalke, Wenger sent his team out for the second half with the request for more urgency, and his half-time talk had its desired effect when Jack Wilshere gave Arsenal the lead four minutes after the break.
Thomas Vermaelen, who was being employed as a left-back rather than in his preferred central position, crossed from the flank for Olivier Giroud to direct the ball into the path of Wilshere, who clipped the ball over Geoffrey Jourdren for his first goal in two years.
That opener had a lasting effect on Montpellier, who would have been delighted with their performance, but 14 minutes after Wilshere gave Arsenal the lead, the advantage was doubled with a stunning strike from Podolski.
The Germany international played the ball into Giroud on the edge of the penalty area, before latching onto the Frenchman's lofted pass and striking an unstoppable volley into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area.
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It was a finish that deserved to seal the result of any game, and it did just that as Montpellier failed to threaten Szczesny's goal in what turned out to be a dominant 45 minutes for Arsenal.
There was more good news for the North London outfit after the final whistle, after confirmation arrived from Schalke that the home team had scored a late goal to defeat Olympiacos, which sealed Arsenal's place in the last 16.
The draw for the knockout stages paired Arsenal with the previous season's runners-up, Bayern Munich. The German side hadn't had it all their own way during the group stages, but that did not stop them being considered one of the favourites to lift the trophy at Wembley in May.
Arsenal were overpowered by Bayern during the opening stages of the first leg at the Emirates, and although Podolski netted after the break, Wenger's team headed to Germany having to overcome a 3-1 deficit.
The Gunners stunned their hosts by earning a 2-0 triumph in the Allianz Arena, but it wasn't enough to prevent them exiting the competition on the away goals rule. Despite that defeat, Bayern excelled for the rest of the competition, thrashing both Juventus and Barcelona before sealing a late win over domestic rivals Borussia Dortmund in the final.
Darren Plant
