UEFA Champions League
play pause open Close
 
Played
February 19, 2013 7:45 PM GMT
Emirates Stadium — London
Referee:‬ S. Moen‎
Attendance:‬ 59974‎
 

Arsenal - Bayern Munich Preview: Wenger looking for response after shock FA Cup exit

The Gunners were dumped out of the cup by Championship side Blackburn on Saturday, and will have to be in better form if they are to deny last season's Champions League finalists

By Tom J Doyle

More On :  Arsenal, FC Bayern München, Arsenal vs FC Bayern München
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

ARSENAL

Szczesny
Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen
Arteta, Ramsey
Wilshere
Walcott, Podolski, Cazorla
BAYERN MUNICH

Neuer
Lahm, Van Buyten, Dante, Alaba
Martinez, Schweinsteiger
Muller, Kroos, Ribery
Mandzukic

With Nacho Monreal cup-tied, Kieran Gibbs (thigh) injured and Andre Santos loaned out to Gremio last week, Thomas Vermaelen is likely to be utilised at left-back by Arsene Wenger.

Mikel Arteta is still not fully fit after recovering from injury and, as exclusively revealed by Goal.com on Monday, Wenger is believed to be leaning towards a front trio of Theo Walcott, Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla and axing Olivier Giroud.

Javi Martinez (toe) missed Bayern's last game against Wolfsburg, but should return for the runaway Bundesliga leaders.

Claudio Pizarro (illness) and Holger Badstuber (knee) will miss out for the visitors, while Jerome Boateng is suspended.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Arsenal and Bayern Munich have met four times before in the Champions League, with the Gunners victorious just once.
  • Their last meeting was also at the Champions League last-16 stage, which the German side won 3-2 on aggregate in 2004-05.
  • Olivier Giroud has four assists in the group stages of the Champions League this season; only Zlatan Ibrahimovic has more with five.
  • Bayern Munich had the most different goalscorers in the group stage, with nine.
  • The German side also conceded the fewest shots on target in the group stage, with just 17 against.
  • The Bavarians last won in England in April 2001, with a 1-0 quarter-final victory over Manchester United on course to winning the tournament.
  • Mario Gomez (pictured, right) has scored 25 goals in 26 Champions League starts.

Follow Goal.com on Twitter

Follow Goal.com on Facebook
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Arsenal 2-1 FC Bayern München
    15.8 %
  • Arsenal 1-3 FC Bayern München
    11.37 %
  • Arsenal 1-2 FC Bayern München
    11.36 %
Head to Head
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ Mar 13, 2013 FC Bayern München 0 - Arsenal 2
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ Feb 19, 2013 Arsenal 1 - FC Bayern München 3
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Last Five Matches
Arsenal
May 19, 2013Newcastle 0 - Arsenal 1EPL
May 14, 2013Arsenal 4 - Wigan Athletic 1EPL
May 4, 2013QPR 0 - Arsenal 1EPL
Apr 28, 2013Arsenal 1 - Man Utd. 1EPL
Apr 20, 2013Fulham 0 - Arsenal 1EPL
FC Bayern München
May 18, 2013Borussia Mönchengladbach 3 - FC Bayern München 4GER1
May 11, 2013FC Bayern München 3 - FC Augsburg 0GER1
May 4, 2013Borussia Dortmund 1 - FC Bayern München 1GER1
May 1, 2013FC Barcelona 0 - FC Bayern München 3UCL
Apr 27, 2013FC Bayern München 1 - SC Freiburg 0GER1
Odds
Team News
Available Squads
13Wojciech SzczesnyGoalkeeper
3Bacary SagnaDefender
4Per MertesackerDefender
5Thomas VermaelenDefender
6Laurent KoscielnyDefender
8Mikel ArtetaMidfielder
10Jack WilshereMidfielder
16Aaron RamseyMidfielder
19Santi CazorlaMidfielder
9Lukas PodolskiStriker
14Theo WalcottStriker
24Vito MannoneGoalkeeper
25Carl Jenkinson Defender
2A. DiabyMidfielder
7Tomas RosickyMidfielder
35Francis CoquelinMidfielder
12Olivier GiroudStriker
15Alex Oxlade-ChamberlainStriker
1Manuel NeuerGoalkeeper
4DanteDefender
5Daniel Van BuytenDefender
21Philipp LahmDefender
7Franck RibéryMidfielder
20Javi MartínezMidfielder
27D. AlabaMidfielder
31Bastian SchweinsteigerMidfielder
39Toni KroosMidfielder
9Mario MandzukicStriker
25Thomas MüllerStriker
22Tom StarkeGoalkeeper
13RafinhaMidfielder
10Arjen RobbenMidfielder
11Xherdan ShaqiriMidfielder
30Luiz Gustavo DiasMidfielder
44Anatoliy TymoshchukMidfielder
33Mario GomezStriker
Players to Watch
Olivier Giroud
Olivier Giroud
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 12
Games Goals YC RC
7 2 2 0
The France striker has had an odd first season in the Premier League - read his stats and one would assume he has been a threat in both scoring and assisting with 14 and 10 respectively in 36 games, but he also frustrates Gunners fans in equal measure. This game will be a huge test of his discipline to lead the line and take important chances as they come against the meanest defence in European football.
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 31
Games Goals YC RC
11 2 4 0
The 28-year-old is one of the main reasons for Bayern's recent success. Arsenal will have to be on top form to prevent the athletic midfielder from controlling the game and painfully remind both the fans and Wenger of the likes of Patrick Vieira who used to dominate for the Gunners.
Prediction

While Blackburn may have walked away from the Emirates Stadium on Saturday with a victory, it would be naive to assume Bayern will have it all their own way on Tuesday evening.

The threat of Theo Walcott and the tenacity of Jack Wilshere cannot be ignored, but at the same time it is almost impossible to look beyond the wealth of talent the Bundesliga club have at their disposal.

Given their strength in defence, it would take a strong nerve to bet on the home side stopping Bayern triumphing at the Emirates.
Editor's Prediction
Arsenal 1
Bayern 2
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Match News
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid 		12 0
Robert Lewandowski Robert Lewandowski
Striker
Dortmund 		10 1
Thomas Müller Thomas Müller
Striker
Bayern 		8 1
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona 		8 0
Burak Yılmaz Burak Yılmaz
Striker
Galatasaray 		8 0