Arsenal will come to terms with their toughest test so far this season, as they welcome a Bayern Munich side who are raring to get going at the Emirates Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side are sitting pretty at the top of the Bundesliga table, having picked up the maximum 27 points from their opening nine fixtures.
And unlike Arsenal, they’ve managed to carry their impressive form into Europe’s biggest competition, knocking home eight goals in the process, with the German giants yet to concede a single goal.
In contrast, the Gunners have failed to register a point in the Champions League following surprise a surprise loss to Dynamo Zagreb and that shock home defeat to Olympiacos.
However, a much-needed pick-me-up in the Premier League has lifted Arsene Wenger’s men to a respectable second place in the table, and it’s that drive that the Emirates Stadium will need tonight.
Arsenal
Team News
Arsene Wenger confirmed that there were no fresh injury concerns following the 3-0 victory over Watford, and welcomed back Gabriel Paulista who has recovered from a small knock.
However, Petr Cech is set to start tonight after the boss revealed David Ospina is out injured with a shoulder problem he picked up whilst on international duty with Colombia.
It looks as if the boss is prepared to play a full-strength squad as well, after immediately denying rumours that Alexis and Mesut Ozil would be rested tonight.
Long-term injuries to Jack Wilshere, Thomas Rosicky and Danny Welbeck will leave them out of this one, but Arsenal have the cover needed on the bench anyway.
Overview
It’s really quite a simple plan for tonight’s game, ‘win or you can forget about the Champions League’. Arsenal will want to penetrate the relentless Bayern defence from the first whistle, so you can expect a very attacking set-up from the squad. Bayern are sitting on six points and will be more than happy to take a draw tonight, so expect some frustration for the Gunners in the early minutes of the game.
If they are going to attack heavily, then I can imagine Gabriel coming into the picture for Mertesacker, simply because the Brazilian will be able to cope with the end-to-end football better. The Gunners need to remember that it’s not all about pushing onto goal, but if we can snatch an early goal then the pressure will be lifted a little bit.
One to Watch: Mesut Ozil
Bayern will predictably put their backs to the wall for the first 20 minutes, they are expecting our intensity from the first whistle. Therefore, the man sitting in front of that defensive line is our most important player, and Ozil will have to thread balls through tiny, tiny gaps in a defence that are yet to pick the ball out of their own net in the Champions League. He will be the instigator of our counter attacking play, so let him sit high whilst everyone else tracks back. He’s proved he’s worth £42million, now he needs to prove his worth in the biggest game of his season so far.
Starting XI: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis, Walcott
Bayern Munich
Team News
Pep Guardiola admitted that he has doubts over a trio of players, despite them travelling to London where they will have had a fitness test.
A man who needs no introduction, Douglas Costa could miss out tonight, but with Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandoski to choose from, it’s not the worst situation to be in for Guardiola.
Kinglsey Coman, who is currently on loan from Italian giants Juventus, looks the closest out of the doubted players to make selection, after recovering from a small sprain.
Javi Martinez is likely to miss this one which will be a big loss for the German side. Frank Ribery may or may not be involved in the squad.
Standout names Arjen Robben and Mario Gotze will miss out as well, as they continue to recover from serious injuries. Robben was the closest of the two, but has not travelled as he still isn’t match-fit.
Overview
Bayern will know exactly what to expect tonight, and Pep Guardiola has already stated that the advantage quite clearly lies with the Gunners. However, a Bayern side who are brimming with confidence have to be wary they don’t fall asleep when they get to the Emirates. If they were to lose it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world for them, and I’m sure they’d quite happily take a draw.
Did you see? Guardiola: I Won’t Stay At Bayern For Long – Joining Arsenal In Two Years?
But then again, this is Bayern and they want to be recognised as one of the very few untouchable teams across Europe, so a win at the Emirates will all but confirm what we already knew. Three points would take the pressure off of their remaining fixtures, and allow Guardiola to experiment with his starting eleven in future group stage fixtures. They will sit defensively, they will put bodies around the area to frustrate the likes of Walcott and Alexis, and that’s exactly what the Gunners need to break down in the early stages.
One to Watch: Robert Lewandoski
Where do we start with Lewandoski? Well, despite Gunners fans dreaming of him joining the club over the summer, he opted to stay in German football following his controversial move from Borussia Dortmund. The Pole has racked up 16 goals in 12 appearances from all competitions in 2015/16, and matches Alexis’ impressive stat of having 10 goals in his last five appearances. He’s going to make this attacking line tick, we know what tricks he’s got up his sleeve so this will no doubt be Petr Cech’s toughest test so far in an Arsenal jersey.
Predicted XI: Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Martinez, Alaba, Alonso, Vidal, Thiago, Muller, Coman, Lewandoski
Prediction: Arsenal 2 – 2 Bayern Munich
This game could really go one of two ways, and with the added pressure on the Gunners, I can’t see them slipping up yet again. They’ve got the setup to deal with Bayern, but it will be a frustrating evening.
If I thought we were going to lose, I would admit it. But in this case the Gunners have too much to play for and I believe we will have the attacking presence to cope with their defence.
Bayern will pop up on the break, and I think it will be a lot of Arsenal attack before we lose our heads and let a silly mistake get in the way of our hopes of winning this one.
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