On Tuesday, English Premier League giants Arsenal will face the daunting task of traveling to face Monaco in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 clash.
Having lost their first encounter 3-1 at the Emirates, Arsene Wenger's side will head over to the Stade Louis II stadium, without injured English midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, as they seek progression to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2009-2010.
In the first leg in north London, the stats tipped the Gunners for a comfortable home win, but succumbed to a shocking defeat. This, however, isn't the first time Arsenal need a miracle comeback whilst on the brinks of elimination.
Wenger's side, back in 2003-04, lost 3-0 at home to Inter Milan in the Champions League, but pulled of a spectacular 5-1 win in the second leg in San Siro to get past the Serie A giants.
Nonetheless, the stats favor Arsenal to crash out. See what the records tell about the Gunners' chances.
- Arsenal have lost only once by a 3-1 score line at home in the Champions League, which came at the hands of Bayern Munich.
- The Gunners eventually crashed out despite winning 2-0 at the Allianz Arena
- Only two teams have won 3-1 in a Champions League round of 16 clash. Both went on to win the tie.
- Three first legs have finished 3-1 to the away side; all those teams went on to win the tie.
- Including qualifying rounds, 21 away side have won 3-1 in the 1st. All 21 went on to secure progression.
- Monaco are unbeaten in 16 games.
- The Ligue 1 side are yet to concede a goal at home in the Champions League.
- At 75%, only Real Madrid have a better winning percentage at home ground than Les Rouge et Blanc.
Even Le Prof admits that an uphill battle awaits his team. The long-serving French manager confessed that the numbers don't favor Arsenal's chances, saying:
"The statistics are against us. The result in the first leg is against us. We are conscious about that.
"But no matter how big the percentage is, we have to give absolutely everything to make the stats lie -- that is our desire and belief that we can do it."
Tuesday's encounter will be a real challenge for the FA Cup holders. Although elimination is the likeliest of outcomes, given the Gunners and their history of fairy tale comeback, don't count out the north London side yet.
