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Arsenal Vs Bayern Munich – Line-ups, Injury News, Match Facts, Preview And Prediction

Arsenal Vs Bayern Munich

Feb 19, 2013 at 7.45pm (UK)

Emirates

Arsenal find themselves exactly in the same position as they were in last year. A matter of 10 days saw the Gunners bow out FA cup, Carling cup and the Champions league last time and having already crashed out in both the domestic cups, Champions league is the last minor hope of a silverware this season and a certain team from Germany stand in the way. Any match at this stage of the competition is difficult and especially when you face a team which is yet to lose a game this year, it’s a daunting task.

The Gunners may have to step out of their comfort zone for this game if they want to create any chances of winning the game. Let’s not go into the tactical part of the game, but judging by Bayern’s standards, defending deep and hitting them on counter attacks may be a good idea, mainly because of the defensive record they hold.

Talking to the press in his pre-match conference, Wenger said:

“It’s important we play with belief; we’re on a good run overall. The fact is that we’ve lost two of our last 11 league games. Nil-nil at home is a very good result in the Champions League knockout, but we’re an offensive team and we’ll try to go forward and score goals.”

Bayern are yet to concede in away matches this year and have allowed only 17 shots on target throughout the Champions league group stage matches which only proves half a point of what they are capable of. Having possession and passing the ball side ways will be off no use against the mighty Germans. However knowing Wenger, he will definitely want his players to be more offensive.

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Bayern Munich on the other hand could employ the same tactic, with world class wingers at their disposal and playing away from home they could afford to sit back and attack the Londoners on counters. There will be a make shift left-back (Vermaelen) playing for Arsenal and they could easily exploit that.

In all possible means the Germans are highly favourite to win the tie and rightly so. The Bavarians lead the Bundesliga table by a massive 15 points over second placed Borussia Dortmund and can lift the title well before the season comes to dawn. Having reached the finals twice in the last three seasons, Bayern failed on both the occasions and the wounded lions could show their fury on Arsenal after already storming past their oppositions in the group stage matches.

Bayern manager Jupp Heynckes had the following to say about Arsenal:

“Arsenal are very good team, especially going forward, so we have to stand very tight in defence and then work our way forward. They’ve got a lot of tradition and history – they stand for passing football. They’re fifth in the league and they will be a very different opponent for us. You can really see how [Wenger’s] teams play as they have a real style and dynamic. I don’t have a result I wish for as such, but I think that we can win if we play at our very top level.”

Team News and Injury News:

Arsenal:

One major blow for Arsenal will be at the left back position as first choice left-back Keiran Gibbs is out injured and the newly recruited Nacho Monreal is cup tied which leaves fit again Vermaelen the only option to start in the left hand side.

Arsenal will have to depend mainly on Wilshere and Cazorla to get the game going

Mertesacker, who was benched during the game against Blackburn returns to the starting line-up along side Koscielny and Sagna will take his usual right-back position. Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla will return to their regular slots and it will be interesting to see Wenger’s decision about using Giroud up-front.

There has been a lot of talk that Arsene Wenger should bench the French man and give Podolski a more advanced role allowing Ramsey to start along-side Arteta in a more defensive role where he had a couple of good games. This means Wilshere can play in a more advanced role and Cazorla can take Podolski’s position in the left wing. Players like Rosicky and Diaby should be available on the bench.

Bayern Munich:

The Germans are a little short coming in-to the match. They will be without Claudio Pizarro, Jerome Boateng, Holger Badstuber and Arjen Robben could be involved in a substitute role. However the welcome back Javi Martinez, who missed their game against Wolfsburg with a bruised toe.

Bundesliga top scorer Mario Mandzukic could again get the nod ahead of Mario Gomez for the staring berth.

Possible lineups

Arsenal: Szczesney; Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen; Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla, Podolski, Walcott; Ramsey/Giroud (Depends on Wenger’s descision)

Bayern Munich: Neuer; Lahm, Van Buyten, Dante, Alaba; Schweinsteiger, Martinez, Muller, Kroos, Ribery; Mario Mandzukic.

MATCH FACTS

  • Arsenal and Bayern Munich have met four times before in the Champions League, with the Bavarians winning twice, Arsenal one and the other being a draw.
  • Their last encounter dates back to the 2004/05 Champions League last 16 when Bayern won 3-2 on aggregate.
  • Arsenal have won six of their last seven home Champions League games against German opposition, the only defeat coming against Schalke in this season’s group stages.
  • Bayern Munich have lost on each of their last four trips to England in the Champions League. The Bavarians’ last win in England dates back to April 2001 at Old Trafford in the Champions League quarter-finals.
  • Bayern Munich have scored in each of their last 12 Champions League games, the last team to stop them from netting being Basel in February 2012.
  • Arsenal had the fewest shots in this season’s group stages among the 16 teams qualified for the knockout phase (47). However, they were the most efficient, scoring every 4.7 shots.
  • Bayern Munich conceded the fewest shots on target in the group stages (17).
  • Bayern Munich had more shots on target from outside the box than any other team in the group stages (17).
Quotes and Facts Via – Yahoo Sport

Prediction: An entertaining 2-2 draw.

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