Arsenal face Bayern Munich at the Emirates this Wednesday in the Champions League. Two teams that basically have not put a foot wrong in Europe so far this season will finally collide, and if the build-up feels tense, it’s because both sides are walking in with flawless group-stage records.
Softfootball understands that Arsenal have looked like a side that finally understands the assignment in Europe.
They’ve stormed through the group with an 11–0 aggregate this season; their 4–1 win over Tottenham at the weekend, including an Eze hat trick, with Arsenal later sharing videos of his goals on their official X account, only lifted the mood further around North London.
Watch the video below:
The Emirates has become something of a fortress lately, boasting nine wins and a draw since May, making the Gunners look like favourites on paper.
But then Bayern Munich show up and change the whole vibe. It’s difficult to argue any team in Europe is more in form than the Bavarians right now.
They’ve won 17 of their 18 matches this season, the only one being a draw, and even when they fall behind, as they did against Freiburg, they somehow flip the script and win 6–2.
History doesn’t really smile on Arsenal here. Bayern have gone unbeaten in the last five meetings between the sides, and that tight 3–2 aggregate win over the Gunners in the 2023/24 quarter-finals is still fresh in the memory. With 14 previous meetings, Bayern are basically Arsenal’s most familiar European headache.
Team News
There was a bit of good news with Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli making the bench on Sunday. Still, there are concerns: Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Ødegaard remain major doubts. Gabriel Magalhães, Gabriel Jesus, and Kai Havertz are all ruled out.
Bayern will miss Luis Díaz, who starts his three-match Champions League suspension after that red card against PSG.
Possible Lineups
Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Hincapie, Calafiori; Eze, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Merino, Trossard
Bayern Munich: Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Guerreiro; Pavlovic, Kimmich; Olise, Karl, Gnabry; Kane
Softfootball Prediction
Arsenal have already dropped points in the league to Liverpool, Manchester City, and even Sunderland, so Bayern, arguably their toughest opponent yet, will not be easily shaken.
Softfootball score Prediction: Arsenal 1-2 Bayern Munich
