Anticipating Bayern Munich versus Arsenal: Analysis, expected outcomes, and starting players

It’s anyone’s game in Bavaria on Wednesday as Bayern Munich welcome Arsenal to the Allianz Arena for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.

Some within Bayern quarters feared the worst when Thomas Tuchel’s side rocked up to the Emirates Stadium last week, but the cautious visitors impressed and forced the Gunners to play from behind in the second half after Bukayo Saka had given the hosts an early lead.

Bayern will take a 2-2 draw into the return fixture and face an Arsenal side that suffered its first Premier League defeat of 2024 at the weekend. Mikel Arteta’s title challengers were beaten 2-0 at home by Aston Villa on Sunday.

The German giants, meanwhile, were victorious as they beat FC Koln, but Bayer Leverkusen’s subsequent victory meant Bayern finally surrendered their Bundesliga crown. Their eggs have long been placed in the Champions League basket.

Arsenal are chasing a historic result on Wednesday – they’ve only ever won once at the Allianz – as they attempt to progress into the semi-finals of this competition for the first time since 2009.

Here’s 90min’s preview of this quarter-final second leg.

The hosts will be without the suspended Alphonso Davies, who picked up his third yellow card of the Champions League campaign in north London. The Canadian will likely be replaced by Raphael Guerreiro in Tuchel’s team.

Bayern are also without wingers Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman due to hamstring injuries, but Leroy Sane is expected to be fit despite missing Saturday’s win over FC Koln.

Harry Kane will lead the line once more with Thomas Muller set to keep his place in the side.

Bayern predicted lineup vs Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Kimmich, De Ligt, Dier, Guerreiro; Laimer, Goretzka; Sane, Muller, Musiala; Kane.

Arsenal remain healthy on the injury front, although there is a slight concern regarding the status of Martin Odegaard after he was forced off against Villa with an unspecified issue.

However, it’d be a major surprise to see the Arsenal skipper miss Wednesday’s game, particularly as he returned to training on Tuesday ahead of the flight to Bavaria.

Jurrien Timber should be the Gunners’ only absentee, with Gabriel Martinelli, Jorginho, and Takehiro Tomiyasu potentially coming into Arteta’s team.

Arsenal predicted lineup vs Bayern (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.

The onus will be on Bayern Munich to come out and play on Wednesday given that they’re on home soil, but this dynamic could suit Arsenal with Mikel Arteta likely to be content with containing the hosts and exploiting them in transition.

Gabriel Martinelli has a big role to play on Wednesday, but the Brazilian has been in poor form since recovering from a foot issue. He was the missing link when Arsenal shut out Manchester City at the end of March.

Thus, the Gunners should have joy in Munich with the two sides set to play out a tight game. However, the way Arsenal faded in the second half on Sunday is a notable concern heading into the second leg and it begs the question whether they can hold off a Bayern that rarely fail to win on home soil in this competition.