Bayern Munich v Arsenal preview: Gunners look to continue revival

Wednesday 4 November 2015 20:08, UK

Arsenal travel to Bayern Munich looking to repeat last month's heroics against the German champions in the Champions League.

The Gunners beat Pep Guardiola's side 2-0 in the last Group F clash, putting them on three points after three games, and a win at the Allianz Arena would leave them in a strong position to qualify despite a poor start.

Arsene Wenger's side are flying high in the Premier League having won their last five games, scoring 16 goals in the process, and they face a Bayern side who dropped their first Bundesliga points of the season with a 0-0 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday evening.

Arsenal have had relative success at Bayern in recent years, drawing (2013/14) and winning (2012/13) on their last two visits, but were knocked out at the last 16 stage on aggregate on both occasions.

Team news

Arsenal's injury crisis has only escalated since their victory over Bayern, when Aaron Ramsey joined several of his team-mates on the sidelines. Since then his two likely replacements, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott, have picked up muscular problems that will keep them out until after the international break.

Hector Bellerin has also picked up a small groin injury with Mathieu Debuchy likely to deputise at full-back. Danny
Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky (both knee). Mikel Arteta and David Ospina are back in training but not in contention in Munich.

Arsenal have a total of nine first-team players absent for the trip to Germany, which means teenager Jeff-Reine Adelaide has travelled and is included in the squad.

Guardiola complained about his side's injury problems in the aftermath of Bayern's Emirates defeat, but they appear to have eased just as Arsenal's have worsened.

Franck Ribery, Mario Gotze and Sebastian Rode are all unavailable but several first-teamers have returned from injury. Arjen Robben and Javi Martinez started Friday's draw with Frankfurt whilst Medhi Benatia was an unused substitute.

Opta stats

Bayern Munich have won their last seven at home in the Champions League, keeping five clean sheets and conceding just three goals in that run.

Bayern have won 16 of their last 17 home games in the Group Stage of the competition, however their one defeat in that run came against English opposition (Manchester City, Dec 2013).

Arsenal have lost just one of their last seven away games in the Champions League against German opposition (W3 D3).

The North London club have conceded three times from a corner; a competition high this season in the Champions League.

Bayern have bagged 21 goals across their last four home games in this competition; an average of 5.25.

Charlie's prediction

The way that Arsenal are defending, I am confident that it won't be one of these games where Bayern are 3-0 up at half-time and it's just save face from there, because this lot can do that against the very best.

I see, the diver of all divers and an absolutely tremendous talent, Arjen Robben is back and that does concern me. He's not quite up to speed but he's always been a real problem to Arsenal. They made quite a few changes at the weekend so I'm asking what to expect from them. I do think you can get at them though, especially with David Alaba at centre-back.

My heart wants to say that I believe we can get a score draw, I'm tempted by Arsenal -1 on the handicap and I'd swallow your arm if you offered me a 1-1. However, I think Bayern will be hurting from what we did to them at the Emirates and be out for revenge.

Charlie predicts: 2-1 and Robben to score first (25/1 with Sky Bet)

Betting

Arsenal are up against odds of 7/1 with Sky Bet to repeat the feat and beat Bayern Munich (4/11) back at the Allianz Arena and 4/1 to secure a point. The Gunners are also odds-against at 13/8 to qualify from Group F, with Olympiakos currently favoured to secure second spot, while Guardiola's men are just 1/7 to top the group and joint-favourites at 3/1 to win the tournament.

Robert Lewandowski heads the first goalscorer betting at just 3/1 with Giroud rated Arsenal's most likely source of a goal at 17/2. The Soccer Saturday pundits and Jamie Redknapp have submitted their Sky Bet tips, including Phil Thompson's 18/1 fancy for Lewandowski to score first in a Bayern 2-0 win at 18/1.