As if Arsenal needed anything else to go against us as we prepare to face the German champions Bayern Munich on their own turf thanks to another typically hard draw for the Gunners, but the bit of hope that we had been given with the news of Xabi Alonso picking up an injury has been snuffed out.
Whether it was just a con all along we do not know but the Spaniard starts today, while our own injury blow was clearly true because Lucas Perez is not even in the matchday squad. That was not one of the major issues going into this massive game though, but it certainly does not help us.
The big questions ahead of this game were about Mesut Ozil, who does start despite his poor recent form, and the attacking line-up. Arsene Wenger has decided to stick with the same old same old and I think he may have missed a trick as I would love to have seen Danny Welbeck given a run out, but the only real surprise for me is Gibbs starting ahead of Monreal.
Ospina
Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Gibbs
Xhaka, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain
Ozil, Iwobi, Alexis Sanchez
Subs: Cech, Gabriel, Monreal, Elneny, Walcott, Welbeck, Giroud.
I do hope that the team picked by Wenger plays well and at least keeps us in the hunt for the home leg but I believe that Wenger has picked the team that Bayern would expect and I expect it to be another tough night for Arsenal. Can they prove me wrong?
Bob.