Bayern Munich vs Arsenal – Champions League quarter-final: Wounded Gunners face mammoth second leg – team news
ARSENAL will be licking their wounds after recently suffering a crucial blow in their domestic title pursuit – but a Champions League win over Bayern tonight would certainly lift their spirits.
The Gunners had a huge opportunity to reclaim the Premier League summit spot on Sunday after seeing Liverpool lose to Crystal Palace.
But top-four chasing Aston Villa had thoughts of their own as goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins saw Unai Emery’s men escape the Emirates with all three points.
Now it’s advantage Manchester City in the title race.
However, Mikel Arteta will be determined for his side to bounce back against a wounded Bayern Munich team who officially surrendered the Bundesliga crown to Bayer Leverkusen last weekend.
Furthermore, it provides Arsenal with the chance to deny arch-nemesis Harry Kane from winning silverware in his first season with the Bavarians.
However, the Germans will be more motivated than ever as they know this is their last chance to avoid a trophyless campaign.
Arsenal fans will be aware they have gone 15 years without reaching the Champions League semi-finals.
But can they end that run in Munich on Wednesday night?
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the game.
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What is their form like?
Arsenal suffered their first league defeat of 2024 on Sunday as they were beaten 2-0 at home by Aston Villa.
The trip to Bayern will tell whether they can bounce back straight away, having come into the first leg in sensational form.
Prior to the Villa clash, Arsenal were unbeaten in eight matches since their last-16 first-leg defeat to Porto back in February.
Meanwhile, Bayern beat Cologne 2-0 on Saturday – their first win in four matches.
They came to the Emirates off the back of successive defeats to Borussia Dortmund and Heidenheim, but the draw at Arsenal could prove to be the turning point in their season.
What is the team news?
Thomas Tuchel will have to make do without electric winger Kingsley Coman as he sustained a fresh groin injury on the weekend.
Sacha Boey (hamstring), Noel Aseko Nkili (ankle), Tarek Buchmann (thigh), Bouna Sarr (cruciate ligament), Leroy Sane (groin) and Serge Gnabry (hamstring) are all doubts for the second leg.
While Alphonso Davies is suspended for picking up five yellow cards in Bayern’s Champions League campaign.
Elsewhere, Arteta will be sweating over the fitness of captain Martin Odegaard who limped off during Arsenal’s devastating loss to Aston Villa.
Who will be the star men?
Martin Odegaard
Odegaard could prove to be the crucial man for Arsenal if he is deemed fit enough to start on Wednesday night.
The Norwegian was superb in the first half against Aston Villa and is in some of the best form of his career.
His ability to play a killer pass is what the Gunners will desperately need if they are to break through Bayern Munich’s back line.
Jamal Musiala
Just like Odegaard, Jamal Musiala will be the key playmaker for his side.
Bayern could be without both Sane and Gnabry if they do not recover from their knocks, making Musiala’s contribution all the more important.
It will be up to him to find Kane in dangerous areas and expose Arsenal’s defence in a similar way to how Villa did at the weekend.
What have the managers said?
Mikel Arteta described the second leg against Bayern Munich as a “beautiful opportunity” for his team following their defeat to Villa.
He said: “After losing any game, frustrated and sad.
“But as I said, we have a beautiful opportunity, an opportunity that hasn’t happened at this club for 14 years to get to the semi-finals of the Champions League, so it cannot come in a better moment.”
Meanwhile, Tuchel insists his team need to be on the top of their game to reach the semi-finals.
He said: “We need everything. The same dedication, passion, efforts by the team, tactical discipline. The same one between us and the first leg. The winner will succeed and the loser will be out.
“We hope for the same atmosphere as the fans in London managed to do. That can push the team.
“It’s important that each fan comes with the readiness to support the team.
“We need that to give this extra percentage to beat Arsenal.”
SunSport prediction
Bayern Munich 1-0 Arsenal.
When is Bayern vs Arsenal?
- Bayern Munich host Arsenal for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final THIS Wednesday – April 17.
- It is scheduled to kick off at 8pm BST.
- The Allianz is the allocated arena for this titanic clash and it can host approximately 70,000 passionate fans.
- Leandro Trossard’s late goal in the first leg earned Arsenal a 2-2 draw with Bayern at the Emirates.
What TV channel is it on and can it be live streamed?
- Bayern Munich vs Arsenal will be broadcast LIVE on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.
- Coverage is expected to commence from 7pm BST – a whole hour before kick-off.
- Fans can stream the entire action via the discovery+ app.
- Alternatively, SunSport will have coverage of the whole match through our live blog.
Jurrien Timber continues to nurse his long-term knee injury.
What are the odds?
- Bayern to win 13/10
- Draw 13/5
- Arsenal 7/4
To qualify
- Bayern 8/11
- Arsenal 11/10
*Odds courtesy of Paddy Power are correct at time of publication