The Champions League is back with a bang this week, as Arsenal yet again face Bayern Munich for a place in the last eight. With Bayern going through last year, Arsenal will be keen to avenge the defeat. They have faced the North London side twice before in the last sixteen and have progressed on both occasions, the Gunners have also lost each of their last three home games to German opposition (Schalke, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern). The Bavarians possess a fine record in recent years within the competition; reaching the final in three of the last four years, winning their last six Champions League games outside of the Allianz Arena and have won their last five ties in the knockout stages, scoring thirteen and conceding just one. There is however, hope for Arsenal, as since the format of the competition was changed in 2003/04, they remain the only side along with Real Madrid to have reached the last sixteen in every season. Also, Arsenal have only lost three knockout round games out of their last eighteen at home in Europe's top competition.
Both teams come into the game in fine form, with Bayern being unbeaten in the Bundesliga and having only lost to Manchester City in the Champions League and Borussia Dortmund in the German Supercup, it's fair to say that FCB will not be lacking in confidence. European footballer of the year Franck Ribéry will be out for the reigning European Champions as he hasn't recovered from surgery on his buttocks, long term absentee Holger Badstuber will also be missing. Xherdan Shaqiri will also miss the match after he picked up a knock following a brace against Freiburg at the weekend. Mario Mandzukic was suspended in the four-nil win against SCF and should return to the side, Bastian Schweinsteiger could also make his first start since his return from injury. Brazilian centre-back Dante is one booking away from missing the return leg in Bavaria. Bayern's chief-executive, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, had this to say on his team's first trip back to London since winning the trophy in May:
"I like London. And even more after the Summer." said Rummenigge, "We've got terrific memories of playing Arsenal and the attraction of London is even greater after winning the final against Dortmund." He added that Bayern will face a much stronger team this time round, "You just have to look at the Premier League table, Arsenal had no chance of winning the title a year ago - and now they do. They've been very active in the transfer market. The quality of the team has improved."
Arsenal are also in fine form this season, having been well below par for the vast majority of the start of the previous season, this term has been much better for North Londoners. Their fans are baying for their first trophy in eight years and are without any fresh injury concerns, despite Mikel Arteta being suspended for the game after getting sent-off against Napoli in their final group game, it looks likely that Tomas Rosicky will step in. Santi Cazorla, Kieran Gibbs, Wojciech Szczesny and Olivier Giroud should return to the starting line-up after sitting out the two-one win in the FA Cup against Liverpool. The Londoners have managed injuries extremely well this year, with captain Thomas Vermaelen, Aaron Ramsey, Abou Diaby, Theo Walcott and new signing Kim Källström all injured, they've only suffered one defeat in their last six games. Arsené Wenger says Arsenal 'have the belielf' to beat Bayern:
"Last year, we went out on the away goal, so that shows it's important not to concede at home. Our home form will be vitally important in this tie. But I think we are in much better mental shape than we were a year ago. We lost against Blackburn at home in the FA Cup and that was a big disappointment for us, but this year we won against Liverpool and we are really determined to win this game. We know we face the favourite of the competition, but we have belief, because we've only had big games."
Predicted XI's:
Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Flamini, Wilshere; Rosicky, Özil, Cazorla; Giroud. (4-2-3-1)
Bayern: Neuer; Rafinha, Boateng, Dante, Alaba; Lahm; Müller, Kroos, Thiago, Robben; Mandzukic. (4-1-4-1)