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Bayern Munich vs Arsenal: Preview, team news, line-up and prediction

By on April 16, 2024

Oleksander Zinchenko Arsenal

Arsenal head to Germany to take on Bayern Munich in the second leg of our Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday night.

It’s safe to say it’s been a hugely frustrating week for Arsenal following two disappointing results. Sunday’s shock 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium has derailed our title bid and we now have to hope Manchester City slip-up during the final six games of the season.

City moved two points clear at the top after beating Luton Town 5-1 on Saturday afternoon so it was over to Liverpool and Arsenal to respond on Sunday. The Merseysiders slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Anfield, handing Arsenal the perfect opportunity to take control of the title race by beating Villa at home.

The Gunners started well and should have been a couple of goals ahead at half-time. However, wasteful finishing from Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus in particular meant it was 0-0 at the break. Arsenal were made to rue their missed chances as Villa took control in the second half and ran out 2-0 winners thanks to late goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins.

The defeat is a hammer blow to our title chances and the second half performance was unforgivable as the players looked lost and had no response to Villa’s increased tempo. Arsenal are now two points behind City with six games remaining, and we have a tough run-in. However, it’s vital not to get too down as there will be more twists and turns.

Most pundits, and even fans, think the title is ‘over’. But all it takes is for City to draw one game and we can move above them with a win as we have a better goal difference. City are unlikely to win all six of their games, so Arsenal need to pick themselves up and make sure we’re ready to take advantage of any slip-ups from the defending champions.

Champions League focus

However, we have to put the Premier League title race to one side as we have a huge Champions League clash with Bayern Munich to worry about on Wednesday night. Arsenal made the perfect start in the first leg last week as Bukayo Saka curled home a wonderful goal to give us a 12th minute lead and we could have made it 2-0 when Ben White missed a glorious chance.

Unfortunately, old habits returned as Arsenal gifted Bayern Munich a way back into the game as a sloppy mistake at the back led to Serge Gnabry equalising. Another horror-show at the back allowed Leroy Sane to power straight through the middle of the team and William Saliba eventually bought him down in the area. Harry Kane scored his customary penalty against Arsenal to give Bayern an undeserved lead at the Emirates.

Arsenal rallied in the second half and got a deserved equaliser when Trossard swept home. We could have won it at the death when Saka went down in the area under contact from Manuel Neuer. Replays showed Saka had left his right leg out, but there is no denying Neuer also stuck his leg out to bring the Arsenal attacker down. It’s a situation we’ve seen countless times over the years and 99% of the time to officials award a penalty, even though the attacker ‘bought’ it. However, on this occasion, the referees decided to waive away Arsenal’s appeals.

So the tie is finely balanced at 2-2 heading into the second leg. Bayern are now favourites given they have home advantage and are vastly more experienced in these situations in Europe. However, Arsenal cannot be discounted. I actually think we have a better chance away from home as the pressure will be on Bayern. We also showed in the first leg we can create chances against them so I don’t think we have anything to fear.

Bayern have been very poor domestically this season and they can be vulnerable at times. If Arteta gets his selection right, I fancy our chances.

How to watch

Bayern Munich vs Arsenal will be shown live on TNT Sports, kicking off at 8pm on Wednesday April 16th. Subscribers will be able to follow all the action on their TV, or via the app on mobile or tablet devices.

Match going supporters can buy Bayern Munich vs Arsenal tickets through the official club websites, on the UEFA ticket exchange, or via trusted online resellers such as Seatsnet.com.

Team news

Arsenal have virtually a fully fit squad to choose from. Skipper Martin Odegaard will need to be checked over after picking up a knock against Villa at the weekend. However, it’s not thought to be serious so the Norwegian international should be available for selection.

Jurrien Timber is continuing to build up his fitness in training as he closes in on his long-awaited return. However, Arteta says he’ll need to get some minutes under his belt with the U23’s before he’ll be considered for first team action.

Bayern will be without Alphonso Davies due to suspension after he picked up his third booking of the tournament. Gnabry is set to miss out after picking up a hamstring injury at the Emirates while Kingsley Coman is also ruled out with a groin problem that he sustained at the weekend.

Leroy Sane is also a minor doubt with a knock but he’s expected to be passed fit. Sacha Boey, Bouna Sarr, Tarek Buchmann and Gabriel Marusic are all missing through injury.

Likely Line-up

Arteta may make changes from the side that lost to Villa with left-back the main area of concern. Jacub Kiwior was hauled off at half-time in the first leg after struggling against Sane and he didn’t feature against Villa at the weekend.

Oleksandr Zinchenko has been heavily criticised for his performance on Sunday and his defensive vulnerabilities would make him a risky pick for this game. Takehiro Tomiyasu could be the most sensible solution so he could start at left-back as long as he’s fit enough.

Jorginho is expected to be recalled to start in midfield with Declan Rice pushed into the No.8 role. That means Kai Havertz could resume his role up front with Gabriel Jesus either dropped or moved out to the wing.

Expected Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli

Expected Bayern XI: Neuer; Kimmich, Dier, De Ligt, Guerreiro; Laimer, Goretzka; Muller, Musiala, Sane; Kane

Prediction

Not many are giving Arsenal a hope of beating Bayern away but I think we’re capable of causing an upset. For me, there was a huge overreaction to the first leg with some of the ‘reporting’ in the media making out like we’d lost 5-0. We made a couple of basic errors to gift them both goals, but otherwise they didn’t really trouble us too much. Arsenal were by far the better team in the opening exchanges and should have been 2-0 up. Even in the second half we matched them and got a deserved draw. Not forgetting we should have had a last minute penalty as well.

So, I think Arsenal should be going to Germany quietly confident of getting a positive result. We have the players to hurt them, but we need to rediscover our solidity at the back. If Arsenal can keep things tight and not give away any stupid goals, I fancy us to edge it. Bayern Munich 1-2 Arsenal [3-4 aggregate]