Football - Bayern Munich v Arsenal preview

Bayern Munich v Arsenal preview

Arsenal travel to Bayern Munich looking to repeat last month's heroics against the German champions in the Champions League.

The Gunners beat Pep Guardiola's side 2-0 in the last Group F clash, putting them on three points after three games, and a win at the Allianz Arena would leave them in a strong position to qualify despite a poor start.

Arsene Wenger's side are flying high in the Premier League having won their last five games, scoring 16 goals in the process, and they face a Bayern side who dropped their first Bundesliga points of the season with a 0-0 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday evening.

 

Arsenal have had relative success at Bayern in recent years, drawing (2013/14) and winning (2012/13) on their last two visits, but were knocked out at the last 16 stage on aggregate on both occasions. 

 

Arsenal's injury crisis has only escalated since their victory over Bayern, when Aaron Ramsey joined several of his team-mates on the sidelines. Since then his two likely replacements, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott, have picked up muscular problems that will keep them out until after the international break.

Hector Bellerin has also picked up a small groin injury with Mathieu Debuchy likely to deputise at full-back. Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky (both knee). Mikel Arteta and David Ospina are back in training but not in contention in Munich.

Arsenal have a total of nine first-team players absent for the trip to Germany, which means teenager Jeff-Reine Adelaide has travelled and is included in the squad.

Guardiola complained about his side's injury problems in the aftermath of Bayern's Emirates defeat, but they appear to have eased just as Arsenal's have worsened.

Franck Ribery, Mario Gotze and Sebastian Rode are all unavailable but several first-teamers have returned from injury. Arjen Robben and Javi Martinez started Friday's draw with Frankfurt whilst Medhi Benatia was an unused substitute.