Best Odds: 4/5
Bookmaker:
Desperate to claim a first-leg advantage and make a heavyweight Champions League statement, Arsenal will welcome Bayern Munich to north London on Tuesday night.
Arsenal
Starting with the hosts, making a real statement over the weekend as they stormed their way to a 3-0 romp away at Brighton, Arsenal are in the midst of what has been a remarkable purple patch. Edging their way past Portuguese giants Porto last month as they punched a quarter-final ticket, Mikel Arteta’s young squad find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. Smelling the chance to put down a real European marker in north London, Arsenal have collected 31 points from just their previous 11 Premier League appearances. Along with gaining a fearsome reputation for their free-scoring performances in the final third, Arteta will also be hugely excited by his side’s rugged success at the back. Marking their return from March’s international break with a 0-0 stalemate away at title rivals Manchester City, the Gunners have kept a clean sheet in five of their last six matchups across all competitions.
Team News
While Dutch defender Jurrien Timber might be inching towards a return following a long-term knee injury, the former Ajax star will not feature on Tuesday night. However, overcoming a minor knock against Brighton over the weekend and notching a 14th Premier League goal of the season, England international Bukayo Saka will keep his spot from the start.
Notching five goals in his previous seven Premier League appearances and continuing to gain plenty of recent plaudits, former Chelsea star Kai Havertz will once again feature in a false nine role. Not making a start since returning from March’s international break, Brazil international Gabriel Martinelli will have to settle for another spot on the bench.
Bayern Munich
As for the visitors, suffering what was an infamous collapse away at Heidenheim over the weekend, it is no secret that Bayern Munich are at the heart of a public crisis this season. Eventually falling to an action-packed 3-2 loss away from the Allianz, it has already been confirmed that Thomas Tuchel will be leaving this summer. Marking their return from March’s international break with a 2-0 defeat at home against historic rivals Borussia Dortmund, the former Chelsea boss has come under a huge amount of scrutiny. Long since accepting that they will lose their Bundesliga crown this season, Tuesday’s guests have also gained a reputation for their glaring issues on the road. Including another 3-2 loss against Bochum on February 18th, Bayern have recorded just a single victory from any of their last six showdowns outside of Munich.
Team News
All missing out away at Heidenheim over the weekend, the likes of Manuel Neuer, Kingsley Coman, Nous Mazraoui and former Manchester City star Leroy Sane remain real doubts here. Dealing with a long-term hamstring injury, Tuchel’s camp have already confirmed that French defender Sacha Boey will not travel.
Continuing on what has been a stunning romp since completing a £100million move from Tottenham last summer and recording 32 goals in his 28 Bundesliga appearances, Harry Kane will certainly play a leading role here. Likewise, settling for a spot over the weekend, ex-Spurs star Eric Dier should also be handed a full recall when he returns to north London.
Key Factors to Consider
