Mesut Ozil: 'Bayern Munich are better than last year'

Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil believes that Bayern Munich have improved this season as the two teams prepare to meet in the Champions League last 16.

The Bavarian giants visit the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday for the first leg of the tie, and Ozil feels that they are stronger now than when they became European champions last May.

"I have huge respect for Bayern," he told Germany's Bild am Sonntag newspaper. "They are even better than they were last year, but we're not going to hide.

"Anything is possible over two legs. I'm the kind of player who loves games like these."

Bayern go into the match having only lost two games all season - to Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund.