This is a big step up in quality for Arsenal today as the pre-season build up gets serious in China with a match against our recent tormentors Bayern Munich. So far Arsenal fans have seen Arsene Wenger give everyone a run out and he has introduced the new striker Alexandre Lacazette quite gently.
We all expected the French international to be the new first choice centre forward but he has been playing out wide up until now, but against the German champions the former Lyon star will start in the centre forward position, although whether he will be up there on his own with Ozil on one side and Welbeck on the other or whether the Gunners try a strike pairing remains to be seen.
The boss is once again going for three at the back, with Mertesacker in the middle, Monreal on the left and Bielik on the right in front of Cech in goal. With Coquelin and Xhaka in central midfield the other summer signing Kolasinac and the young Gunner Maitland-Niles will play on the flanks and if Ozil plays his usual number 10 role they should have plenty of width, like so.
Cech
Bielik, Mertesacker, Monreal
Maitland-Niles, Coquelin, Xhaka, Kolasinac
Ozil
Welbeck, Lacazette
Can this Arsenal team give Bayern a better run for their money than in the last three meetings?
Bob.