The Emirates will host a gigantic UEFA Champions League quarter-final between Arsenal and Bayern Munich, with both managers looking for an advantage.
Arsenal fans expect their team to banish the ghosts of old games with Bayern Munich and show their actual class. This time around, the Gunners and their fans are pretty optimistic about getting the better of the Bavarians, and they have every right to feel this way, considering how well Mikel Arteta’s side has been performing of late.
Arsenal come into this clash at the top of the Premier League standings, having beaten Brighton & Hove Albion away from home and watched Liverpool manage a draw at Old Trafford. At the Amex, a Bukayo Saka penalty opened the scoring, with Kai Havertz and former Seagulls star Leandro Trossard adding second and third strikes to seal the points for the Gunners.
Now, Arteta will want to switch his entire focus towards Bayern Munich, as he was part of the squad last time Arsenal beat Bayern Munich at the Emirates with a 2-0 scoreline. In the next three fixtures, the Bavarians have got the best of the Gunners with an identical 5-1 scoreline, and the Spaniard will want that memory banished with a stellar performance against the reigning Bundesliga champions.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich could have performed better and have lost massive ground in their quest to fight for the Bundesliga title. Bayer Leverkusen have an unprecedented 16-point advantage at the top after Bayern lost to Heidenheim with a 3-2 scoreline. Xabi Alonso’s side could confirm the title with another victory in the league, which could happen as soon as next week.
Thomas Tuchel seems desperate to end his time at the club on a high note, and only winning the Champions League could help him achieve that. This is the only competition they are alive in now, having seen exits from all domestic cup competitions and almost on the brink of losing their Bundesliga crown.
With a UEFA ban in progress, Bayern Munich will not have any travelling supporters in the Emirates. However, those sitting back in Germany and thinking their team can steamroll this Arsenal side may be proved wrong in their assumption, as Harry Kane’s return to north London might be a sore one this time out.
Team News & Tactics
Arsenal
The entire Arsenal squad trained ahead of the meeting with Bayern Munich, including Jurrien Timber. Hence, Mikel Arteta will have the entire set of players to choose from. But given the last 10-11 games, there are some indications on who will feature in his best lineup.
There are a few selection dilemmas, like the central midfield, the left wing, and the left-back positions. Since the turn of the year, Jakub Kiwior has been brilliant. Still, with Oleksandr Zinchenko in the hunt, Arteta would have to sacrifice some of the defensive solidity for more control in midfield and the final third. Hence, it is a big choice for the manager to make between the Polish star and the Ukrainian.
Similarly, with Arteta using Jorginho rather extensively in central midfield, he might be tempted to reinstate Thomas Partey in this clash. For now, the Italians may get the nod for this clash, with the Ghanaians ready to take a starting role on short notice.
Gabriel Jesus attended the pre-game press conference and has been playing on the left wing in Gabriel Martinelli’s absence. Ideally, the latter remains Arteta’s first-choice left-winger, as the Bayern clash could see the Brazilian star return to the starting lineup at the expense of the striker.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Raya; Ben White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Bayern Munich
There have been plenty of rumours about some notable absentees in this Bayern Munich squad ahead of their trip to north London. Leroy Sane, Manuel Neuer, Noussair Mazraoui, and Kingsley Coman have since trained with the team and have been named in the travelling squad.
Whether they are fit to start is another question, meaning Sven Ulreich is the best possible option between the sticks for the Bavarians. However, given Neuer has trained, he might see himself starting in goal. In defence, with Mazraoui available, there are question marks about whether Tuchel will reinstate the Moroccan straight at right-back, which could see Joshua Kimmich move back to central midfield.
However, should Kimmich continue at right back, Konrad Laimer and Leon Goretzka’s chances of starting in the middle are high. Jamal Musiala will start in the attacking midfield berth, with choices yet to be made on the wide players, although Serge Gnabry could be one of those.
Should Leroy Sane only make it to the bench against Arsenal, Thomas Muller could occupy the wide role on the right. On his return to north London, Kane is the ideal choice to lead the line for Bayern, as he hopes to make his mark over Arsenal again.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Kimmich, Upamecano, Min-Jae, Davies; Goretzka, Laimer; Muller, Musiala, Gnabry; Kane
Key Stats
- Arsenal have won six straight games at the Emirates in all competitions.
- Arsenal have won all four of their Champions League games this season at the Emirates without conceding a goal.
- Arsenal lost each of their last three games against Bayern Munich by a scoreline of 1-5
- Bayern Munich has kept just one clean sheet in their last 12 games across all competitions, with the one coming in the Champions League against Lazio.
- Harry Kane has scored 14 goals against the Gunners from 19 played so far in his career, including five at the Emirates, with the last 4 of those coming from the penalty spot.
Player to Watch
Kai Havertz
The German international has been hitting a rich vein of form of late and has become Arsenal’s undisputed striker to lead the line since the turn of the year. His form means Mikel Arteta will not drop him, particularly after his display against Brighton, where he got a goal and an assist.
In fact, Kai Havertz and Kylian Mbappe are the only two players across Europe’s top five leagues to score and assist in three different games in 2024. Considering the attacker’s links to Bayern Munich, he will have a point to prove to his compatriots and put in a masterful performance that many Arsenal fans would want to overshadow the presence of Kane.
Prediction
Arsenal 2-1 Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich have struggled recently to consistently perform and build momentum. They have suffered back-to-back Bundesliga defeats that have seen the title slip away from their sloppy hands, but they are still a force in Europe.
The Gunners will take inspiration from Lazio and how they stifled the Bavarians in the first leg of the previous round. Moreover, the Gunners are one of the best defensive sides in Europe, and they are revered for their attack, meaning Bayern Munich will find it difficult to break them down, especially in their backyard. Arsenal are expected to travel to Munich with a slender lead, although Thomas Tuchel’s men could still breach that backline.
