Arsenal make the daunting trip to Germany today to take on German champions Bayern Munich, a trip they will be well accustomed to making.
The Gunners take on Bayern for the fourth time in six seasons, with all but one of those encounters being at the same point in the competition. We can boast a home win in the group stages against them in those encounters, but each of the other meetings saw us eliminated from the competition.
This year we have the advantage of having our home tie second, which should allow us to play a controlling game tonight, before going and getting the required result at the Emirates Stadium. It’s far from guaranteed however…
The German side started the season in colourful form, but have found themselves in a rich vein of form coming into this match, winning 11 and drawing one of their last 12 in all competitions. We on the other hand have lost two of our last three matches, but will welcome the return of Arsene Wenger to the sidelines following a ban.
Arsenal will also welcome back Granit Xhaka from his ban, and he may well come straight back into the side with the midfield looking rocky of late. We have no new injuries to contend with also, while Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey remain absent.
Predicted XI:
Ospina
Bellerin Mustafi Koscielny Monreal
Coquelin Xhaka
Walcott Ozil Alexis
Giroud
I’ve selected Giroud for his hold-up play, and with Xhaka and Coq in the side to beef up our holding line in a match where we would be happy to come away without losing.
A win might be too much to ask for, but we can most definitely cause them trouble tonight, and I think we will be going there to get a goal, as well as not to lose. I’ll go with a 1-1 90 minute result, but as long as we leave with an away goal, I think a 2-1 loss would still be manageable.
What are your own predictions for tonight?
Pat J