Last season Arsenal and Bayern Munich locked horns in the Champions League group stage and the Gunners came out on top with a convincing 3-1 win in London that settled the top spot. This time around the draw has thrown them together again but the venue has flipped to Munich and Bayern are heading into the clash in patchy form after the international break. They have already dropped points against Augsburg and Viking with two draws that exposed defensive lapses and a lack of cutting edge up front. Arsenal on the other hand have been flying winning nine of their last ten games across all competitions and the only blip was a surprise loss to Brighton that they quickly put behind them with solid wins over Leeds and Lille.
Team Form
The contrast in momentum is striking as Arsenal boast a long bench that allows them to rotate without losing quality while Bayern have struggled to find rhythm after three draws in their opening fixtures. Fans in Nigeria know how important squad depth becomes when fixtures pile up and the Gunners have shown they can dig deep even when key players are away on international duty. Bayern however look shaky at the back and have failed to break down stubborn defences like Schalke which raises questions about their attacking patterns under Vincent Kompany.
- Arsenal: 9 wins from 10 matches this season with strong reactions after any setback
- Bayern: three draws in a row including goalless stalemates against limited opposition
- Key strength for Arsenal: depth on the bench that keeps legs fresh
- Weakness for Bayern: inability to convert chances after the international break
Tactical Analysis
Arsenal will likely sit compact away from home and look to hit on the counter with pacey wingers stretching Bayern high line while the midfield duo controls tempo. Bayern need to dominate possession but their recent games show they lack the clinical edge to turn territorial advantage into goals. The absence of sharp finishing from their forwards could prove costly against a side that rarely concedes cheap chances. Expect a cagey opening half where both teams probe for weaknesses before the Gunners exploit tired legs in the final quarter.
Betting Proposal
Given the current form and the venue it makes sense to back the visitors to avoid defeat in Munich. The Gunners have the quality and organisation to grind out at least a point and the betting types point towards a solid away result.
Arsenal not to lose away with 0 handicap at 2.30 or X2 at 1.70 looks the smart play for punters looking for value in this Champions League clash.
