The Gunners go into tonight’s game full of confidence after a big cup win against in form Liverpool whilst also managing to rest many first team players. It seems Bayern Munich have been using the League as a warm up for this tie winning 4-0 against Freiburg in their last league fixture.
Arsenal went out on away goals in this fixture last season and therefore know how crucial an important first leg result is, especially with the second leg away from home. A much tighter affair is expected this time round with both teams going very well in their domestic campaigns.
Team News
Arsenal have no new injury concerns going into tonight’s Champions League tie with Bayern Munich. Tomas Rosicky was fully rested from the squad of the Liverpool game with tonight’s match in mind highlighting that the Czech could be starting from the off.
Rosicky knows Bayern Munich well having made his name in German football for Borussia Dortmund, before joining the Gunners, and Wenger may look to the midfielder’s high-tempo style to combat Bayern’s commanding midfield.
Wojciech Szczesny, Bacary Sagna, Kieran Gibbs, Jack Wilshere and Olivier Giroud are expected to return to the first team tonight with Arsene Wenger expected to make changes to the side that beat Liverpool on the weekend.
Mikel Arteta is banned following a red card in the last European fixture with Napoli and it is expected Jack Wilshere will fill his role tonight in the midfield. The battle for places on the flanks will be an interesting selection that Wenger has to make, with Santi Cazorla, Tomas Rosicky and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain battling it out for places.
Cazorla’s goal scoring form of late has somewhat hidden some poor form. The energy of Rosicky and Chamberlain might best be suited against Munich but Wenger may stick with the experience of Cazorla and leave Chamberlain as an impact player for later on in the game.
Germans vs. Germans
A lot of focus tonight will be on Arsenal’s two Germans Mesut Ozil and Per Mertesacker. Mertesacker faces the task of taking on Bayern Munich’s attacking threats and his organisation of the defence will be crucial in that.
Last season Arsenal were torn apart in this fixture, but remarkable improvement has taken place since then and tonight will be the night to showcase that. Playing against the German champions will give Mertesacker the chance to assert his status as Germany’s leading centre back.
If Mario Mandzukic starts up front for Munich, that is a battle that Mertesacker would fancy himself to win. However, the problems may come if Thomas Muller starts as a false number 9, moving more fluidly along the front lines and drifting into space.
Guardiola is expected to use Muller this way tonight to counteract Arsenal’s passing quality as Bayern will look to keep up their highly impressive possession statistics that have seen them win 20 of their last 21 games.
Another German on show tonight will be Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil. The £42 million man has had a somewhat dip in form as of late but the return to the side of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain should give Ozil a lift in his game.
With the injury to Theo Walcott, Ozil has often found himself in great positions in the attacking third with nobody in front of him. Now that Chamberlain is fit and in form, Ozil will have a willing and clever runner to thread passes to and if the Ox starts tonight this could be Arsenal’s biggest attacking threat.
A fantastic second half performance against Southampton by Ozil was seemingly overlooked by the media but tonight will prove a big chance to show his world class talent against opponents he is familiar with.
Ozil will most likely find himself battling with Phillip Lahm tonight as the Bayern full back turned midfielder has been in fantastic form in his new role just in front of the back four. Steven Gerrard was allowed too much time in this role at the weekend and Ozil will need to work for the team and stop Lahm dictating the play as Gerrard did. If not it could be a long night for the Arsenal defence.
Possible XI
Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Flamini, Wilshere, Ozil, Ox, Cazorla, Sanogo
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