Arsenal vs Bayern Munich

The Emirates Stadium forms the backdrop for the first leg of a mouth-watering Champions League quarter-final tie between Arsenal and Bayern Munich.

Back in the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2009/10, Arsenal take on a Bayern Munich side they lost to 5-1 at this venue in March 2017. In fact, they’ve lost their last three Champions League clashes against this opposition via that same scoreline, highlighting the size of the task awaiting them this midweek. Arsenal’s dreadful recent record against the Bavarians has contributed to their near-balanced European record against German clubs (W16, D5, L15). However, Mikel Arteta’s men have been impressive at home in Europe this season, winning all four Champions League games at the Emirates without conceding. On top of that, they are unbeaten in their last seven competitive outings (W6, D1), including a 3-0 hammering of Brighton at the weekend.

On the other hand, lifting the Champions League crown is Bayern Munich’s last chance to avoid a trophyless campaign for the first time in over a decade after falling 14 points behind runaway Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen courtesy of a 3-2 defeat at Heidenheim over the weekend. Manager Thomas Tuchel will leave the club in the summer but will hope to bow out in style after overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit to beat Lazio 3-1 in the opening Champions League knockout round. That loss to the Italian outfit remains Bayern Munich’s only defeat in their last nine European fixtures (W6, D2), a run that includes three unbeaten matches against English clubs (W2, D1). Adding to the visitors’ confidence, they’ve only lost one of their last seven Champions League knockout away games against Premier League sides (W4, D2).