I think it's easier on them as they have nothing to lose really.
i dont buy that kind of stories, cmone, arsenal every year is fighting for the title in england, their squad is valued 431 m. on transfermarkt, is not that they are dinamo kyiev, or sparta prag, so that is a non sense, every year they flop in CL, it is not because they are some kind of underdogs or a team with bad players, it is because they are managed by arsen wenger (monaco last year)
just because barcelona is good managed club and way more succesful in europe than arsenal, they can lose and they will not be disapointed, it does not go like this, every arsenal fan expecting step up in CL, they did not do nothing after 2006
edit: and yes, thank you belletti.