Former Tottenham star Eric Dier is relishing the challenge of facing Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

Bayern Munich defender Eric Dier says he is ‘really excited’ for the side’s Champions League quarter-final with Arsenal, joking he ‘wasn’t ready to come back to England so soon’ when the draw was made.

Dier went to war against Arsenal on countless occasions during his nine-and-a-half year spell with the club’s bitter rivals, Tottenham, and the 30-year-old is preparing to renew that rivalry again when the two teams lock horns.

Bayern first travel to the Emirates before welcoming the Gunners to the Allianz Arena in just over a week’s time, with Real Madrid and Manchester City colliding in this evening’s other quarter-final.
Struggling for regular minutes under Ange Postecoglou and seeking a fresh challenge away from Spurs, Dier completed a January switch the Bayern and has since made 11 appearances in all competitions for the Bundesliga champions.

The England international played the full 90 minutes as Bayern overturned a first-leg deficit to overcome Lazio in the round of 16 and will no doubt be desperate for a place in Thomas Tuchel’s starting XI tonight.

The Champions League represents Bayern’s last realistic shot at silverware in what has been a desperately disappointing season for the team, with Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen sitting 16 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table.

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