Arsenal are preparing for what could be their most demanding test of the season as they welcome Bayern Munich to the Emirates for Champions League action today, and this is the team Mikel Arteta is starting with.
Both clubs have been the standout performers in the competition so far, and each will work intensively to maintain its impressive form.
Mikel Arteta has guided his team through a series of strong performances, ensuring they continue to win important matches and develop consistency. However, Bayern present a very different type of challenge, one that Arsenal must be prepared to meet with focus and precision. The German side arrives having already defeated Chelsea and PSG in the competition, achievements that have reinforced their status as potential champions this season. Their recent form suggests they possess both the quality and the discipline to trouble any opponent.
Bayern’s consistency has been remarkable, with only Union Berlin managing to halt their winning run, and even then, only managing a draw. Their strength across all areas of the pitch, combined with their Champions League pedigree, underlines the scale of the task awaiting Arsenal. The home side nonetheless approaches the match with optimism after recovering from their 2 2 draw with Sunderland to secure a confident win against Tottenham at the weekend. That result has reinforced belief within the squad that they are capable of performing at a high level against elite opposition.
While Arsenal have every reason to feel they can win the match, translating that belief into a result will require more than confidence alone. Bayern’s quality, experience and tactical cohesion make them an opponent of the highest order, and the match is expected to be exceptionally challenging for both clubs.
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COYG.
Love you boys .
We are The Arsenal. Common
You maybe common, but I’m a cut above.
Saliba as left centre back we suspect?
Moon Girl,
I think Shone meant to say come on, not common. 👍
Thanks😎
Quite the common way of saying come on.
Meaningless result though really, win lose or draw, it’s about making top 8 and hitting highs in the knockouts, not tonight. So I would have preferred what Pep done right, concentrate on the weekend.
Arteta might be still finding it risky to pair Mosquera/ Hincapie and rest Saliba for some reasons. Otherwise a solid lineup, hopefully White will get some game time to recover full fitness.
Is Hincapié injury? he’s the big surprise for me, the Ecuadorian didn’t put a foot wrong against three points lane.
The fact the former Leverkusen man would be the most familiar with the German Champion, one would think his name would have been the first on the team sheet, maybe just maybe he’s the gaffer’s Trump card
Hincapie is on the bench
Think he’s not 100 percent
Had a little niggle at weekend
Arteta trusts the 21 year old Mosquera for the left center back position. That’s beautiful.
A win will send out a huge statement out to the football world. I hope we do it.
Am just relaxed, a no pressure game just gonna enjoy it. Could have loved to see kepa btn the posts, and hopefully see Nwaneri and White at some point. But I sense we see saliba subbed and mosquera moving to the right side COYG💪
come on you Gunners!!!!!
Not a hugely important match when compared to the Sunday clash with Chelsea, and for that reason there could be a case for resting key men such as Saliba, Rice , Timber and Saka.A draw is on the cards as far as i am concerned.
Totally agree, like totally.
Team we are fielding is mistake from Arteta.
I dont think we draw if we rest more players than we have today. Maybe Trossard couldve been rested for Marintelli instead. Not saying this in hindsight of his injury, but one front 3 change I thought seemed inevitable seeing as we got 2 wingers back. Mikel needs to use the whole squad a little bit better.
Outstanding result, really impressed by that mature performance. We look so good. So happy for Madueke and Martinelli as well, coming back into the team.
And whatever the hell Manuel Neuer thought he was playing at there, Little Gabi had his number, haha
We should keep chasing premier league, as we have a chance to win it.
That’s The reason why I think Arteta is going to sub as early as possible
Something is going to give
Zubi and Timber, we are Arsenal
I felt something coming
The German Champion looks shaky against set pieces, a think more coming
Bayern are good. They are pressing pretty well. Cannot take the remaining game lightly.
Damn especially when you think that a minute ago Arsenal could have had a second
I wrote lt last season
When Skelley plays look how many goals come from balls played over his head
Onyango – you DID jinx Trossard! 🙂
He wanted to continue, or maybe the stars are aligning for madueke against his former club. Me thinks 😀
Man, I hope it’s nothing serious
I just love this Madueke kid, very lively and aggressive
Obviously I hope that we win. However, i think Sunday match against Chelsea is more important.
Chelsea rested some key players so I will expect them to have a full strength first team or close to it
I hope MA has taken this into account and done likewise
This week The Premier League match is more important than the Champions League match in my opinion. If Chelsea beats us they will be only 3 points behind us
Good first half, should’ve made it 2-0 when we had the chance. MLS caught out and looking a little rusty which happens when you dont play much. There’s a win in this match for us though if we stay composed. Praying Trossard just has a knock, please dont miss Chelsea game!
To be fare happened a few times when he was first choice a ball over the top and boom we concede. Has his strengths defending one on one ain’t one of them. All in all just enjoying the game with each team having it’s moments and why Eze didn’t shoot baffles me. That makes it 2-0
True, MLS needs to raise his level if he wants to start, long balls definitely his weakness, not dominate in the air like our other defenders are. Bayern a big ask and I did suspect we would have a drop-off in defending today against such a good side.
An engrossing half with BM applying pressure and possession. Took a while for Arsenal to settle in and grow into it.
A perfect goal from Bayern, really. No need to panic though.
Second half can go either way. If I were still a betting person I would put my money on Bayern. They can make something happen with three or four passes while our route to goal is more of a slog. Hope Arteta can prod for some weaknesses and our defence holds firm. Actually, I’ll settle for a point.
I think Arteta gave Lewis-Skelly a chance to impress Tuchel instead of fielding Calafiori or Hincapie in the LB position, but Olise and Gnabry were too quick for Lewis-Skelly sometimes
Arsenal were also too afraid to build with short passes in our area in the first thirty minutes of the game. I think Arteta instructed this knowing Bayern have been very good at robbing the ball in their final-third, but we would likely not be able to win the game if we keep using long passes from our half
The substitution is good to penetrate Bayern’s right wing with Madueke, but our attackers must try to capitalize on Bayern’s two yellow cards
Timber has been excellent in defense and attack
If you honestly believe Arteta gave Shelby’s game just to improve his England chances then I think you’ve lost the plot!
We need some fresh legs , Martineli and Hincapié
Skelly isn’t having a happy time
We are overwhelming them in terms of intensity but not converting our chances. So many chances not taken. Referee is scared to send off a Bayern player, such weak referee are not suited for big games.
So Saka is coming off. Got to keep him fresh for Sunday, despite the score line.
SueP
For all those in attendance should get out the stadium and pay again, this is truly one of the great European night
It really is. BM came out in the first half really convincingly but the second half has been all Arsenal and so far the first 3 substitutions have been instrumental in 2 of the goals
Yes two master class in a row
What a corker that was!
Madueke what a time for a debut goal. We need to push on Bayern are cracking physically. We broke R.Madrid, A.madrid and now bayern in term of intensity and duels.
OMG
Blimey 0’Reilly
Absolute top performance from the Arsenal. Bayern are one the tournament favorites and we have completely outplayed them today even with the ref on their side.
Calafiori is a genuinely superior defender for Lewis Kelly.
Hope the young Englishman learns from this
That closes the debate then, back to square one for skelly. Bide his time work hard and see where this takes us. Greatest European night I guess no fear, players full of confidence and rocking
For sure. Calafiori locked down that flank the moment he came on. MLS is young, will get more chances, the competition is good for him.
What a game. Am I crazy thinking this wasn’t even us in our highest gear? 2nd half was very comfortable. Long ways to go. This team is incredible. Praying Trossard is okay now!
Also, Brentford match MUST be the game we give Rice a rest. This guy has a crazy engine, but we cant abuse it lol.
But doesn’t he just enjoy it! He’s a fantastic player and his enthusiasm is so infectious
That giant gallop he took when he went on the run towards goal. I knew he was on one! Rice is such a hypeman. Give West Ham another 100mil
An amazing win against probably the (former) best team in the champions league!
It’s more a matter of fact now we’re the best team in Europe at the current moment. Crazy to say, what a dream. Now let’s win some trophies and go all the way, what a night!
It truly is a dream @RSH. From the painful Wenger days of losing 5-1 three times in a row to Bayern.. now we are smashing them and people even fear us! 😃
been a hell of a ride to get here.
I just knew something was going to give
This was a tremendous performance against a really top team. There can be little doubt now that Arsenal have one of the best teams in Europe.
There is still a long way to go yet but Arsenal are in great shape. Just need to keep the team fit.
Just as well I’m not a betting man. Had to stop watching on 73 minute with us having hit the lead. A nervous drive to airport to pick up my wife followed. Great , well deserved win.
You weren’t tempted to ask her to take the bus?😬
Besides enjoying our victory,one major learning point is the need for proper rotation to be enforced whether a player is in form or not.Coachie made good changes tonight.Well done to him.What did he/the team get wrong tonight?
1. MLS tends to get caught out by balls over the top.Bayern’s equaliser(at 1-1) was not the first time Skelly has been outwitted by such an initiative from an opponent.Remember Salah’s equalizing goal in our 2-2 draw(1st meeting @The Emirates) last season?
2. Trossard has been overplayed for a while now,both for Belgium and for Arsenal.Arteta has to devise a means of monitoring players’ minutes and either dropping particular players for specific matches or subbing them off within games accordingly.
Rice needs to be rested somewhat after the Chelsea game(maybe against Brentford on December 3,God permitting).Against Club Brugge in the 2nd week of December 2025,I feel Rice shouldn’t play so he doesn’t bag an unnecessary yellow card,leaving him free to face Inter in the following Champions League game in the 3rd week of January 2026.
No Sue P. a question of give and take. I was tempted to finish watching the game but early morning peak hour traffic in Sydney meant a ninety minute drive, and who knows what other add on complications.
What if we try Gab J as box to box(to relieve Declan)?Harvetz can function in this capacity(to an extent).Then introduce Ife Ibrahim small small until next Summer when we can sell Gab J off and get another solid midfielder if we care.
Within this hectic December/early January period(especially) and throughout the rest of this season,Timber,Eze,Calafiori and Rice particularly should be rotated with care.Even Rice and Timber with their high availability track record,can break down all of a sudden.We shouldn’t take any single player’s availability for granted.
Joe. S,
You need to get you’re priorities’ straight, you should of made her wait. Just kidding, Honest!. 🤣😂👍