Morning all.
Ex Arsenal player Serge Gnabry talking ahead of tonight’s big clash:
It’s a do-or-die game – that’s where we’re usually particularly strong. Reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League would give us a huge boost. It’s our big goal.
Arsenal have had what it takes to play at the top again for a long time. The team has a certain flair and exudes strength. The odds are probably 50-50. Arsenal have been on a very good run since Christmas. In any case, you can’t really say anything bad about a team that’s competing for the Premier League title. They’re strong, good finishers and are keen on having possession. They’re formidable in their own stadium with their fans behind them. It will be a difficult task, with two strong teams coming up against each other.
Bayern have knocked us out of this very competition four times, each being at the round of 16 stage. 2004/2005 was the first, a narrow 3-2 scoreline over the two legs. The last was in 2017. In 2015/16, having been drawn in the same group, goals from Giroud and Ozil gave us victory at The Emirates.
As mentioned above, 2017 was the last time Arsenal and Bayern Munich went head to head in the Champions League knockout stages. It was a ghastly affair too as we were thumped 5-1 both at home and away in the last 16 round. It was a sign of where Arsenal as a club were. Rock bottom.
For the first time under Arsene Wenger, we failed to secure Champions League football after ending the domestic season in 5th place. It’s been said and written many times about what’s happened since but rather than repeat myself again, I’ll just jump to the here and now with Arsenal not only back in the Champions League but are playing in a quarter-final. The prize being a two legged tie against either Real Madrid or Manchester City. I’ll be honest, seven years ago, I doubted nights like tonight would come around again and certainly not this quickly.
Despite Gnabry suggesting the odds are pretty even tonight, Arsenal are being tipped as favourites, probably because of the poor season Bayern are having domestically. Oh to have a poor season and finish second eh. A poor season in the Premier League and a club would be lucky to finish in a Europa Conference League place let alone 2nd.
Mikel Arteta in his post match interview talked the players relishing the big games:
We’re really enjoying the moment, this is where we want to be. We’re in a really good position in the Premier League and we’re in a really good position in the Champions League. We have a big task ahead of us against one of the most successful teams in Europe and that’s the hurdle we have to overcome, and we are looking forward to it.
On Bayern Munich’s threat:
They’re a tough team. I’m a big fan, a big admirer of Thomas [Tuchel], his teams, the way they settle and play, the way they transmit. I learn a lot about him and looking at Bayern and when you are analysing this league, you see why they are a top team. We have prepared very well, and we have to take our game where we want it, and if we do that, we have a chance to win.
There’s plenty of chit chat around the internet about Kane and how will Arsenal stop him from scoring against us again. Well, if this team can stop Haaland, stopping Kane shouldn’t be a problem. In any case, the focus shouldn’t be on Kane, it should be on who supplies him. Stop them and Kane will struggle to have an impact on the game and this is where Arsenal are good. They hunt in packs, work hard off the ball and don’t give the opposition a lot of time on the ball. It doesn’t matter if we’re playing Sheffield Utd, Liverpool or Man City, Arsenal’s work ethic is the same.
Adrian Clarke, writing in the official matchday programme:
Tuchel is renowned as a smart tactician who can operate with different systems, but 4-2-3-1 has been his first-choice formation this season. Bayern target gaining control of the game through sustained possession, while off the ball they like to press with great determination, and force turnovers high up the field – a non-negotiable for Tuchel. They are blessed with a rich array of forward talent, and during their six matches in March they netted an impressive 18 goals. Jamal Musiala [above], Thomas Muller and Leroy Sane are an exceptionally talented attacking midfield trio, and if they are not on top form the likes of Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry are alternatives.
Munich love to attack, but when plays breaks down a soft centre has been exposed. They have only conceded seven in the Champions League, but in the Bundesliga poor defensive displays have blighted them. Shipping seven goals from counter-attacks in domestic competition, they are vulnerable to swift breaks. Tuchel has regularly tinkered with his defence, but at no stage have they ever looked consistently secure.
Arsenal Team news: Everyone bar Jurrien Tumber is available tonight. Declan Rice and Kai Havertz need to avoid a booking otherwise they’ll miss the return match.
Bayern Munich: Sacha Boey and Bouna Sarr are ruled out. Alphonso Davies and Leon Goretzka also need to avoid being booked tonight otherwise they too will miss the return match.
A statistic for you – Bayern have been eliminated from the competition at this stage in each of the last three campaigns, losing the first leg each time. They have won just one of their last five away games in the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
Tonight they’ll be no away fans inside The Emirates as they’re banned which means the stadium will be full of Arsenal fans. The noise and excitement level should be sky high. Under the lights, North London Forever will be ringing out loud, louder than ever before I’m sure.
Nights like tonight is what every football fan wants for their club, it’s what Arsenal fans have wanted for a long long time.
Catch up in the comments…
Ben White with a screamer is my prediction. 4 -1 to the Arsenal
Djb, I’d be happy with that… very happy.
Have the pleasure of going tonight , so I will update in the morning . Hopefully it will all be good news.
Hope you’re the lucky charm Potter..
Nota very confidente for today….
You weren’t for the Porto tie either Jm. 😂
Potter, Hope the weather is fine, should be a good match.
Rico sorry to hear about your family, it not watching people you love suffer,
Hopefully a 2 nil win tonight,
I feel nervous about tonight,I’m confident in the Premier league but the season will be over for Bayern if they lose badly tonight. They will try to do what Chelsea did a few years ago and win the Champions league despite a poor league season.
I’m hopeful our boys will be too much,I remember watching Saliba playing PSG a few years back,and keeping Mbappe and Neymar quiet,I think the score was 0 -0.
Fingers crossed for tonight,COYG
Thanks Geoff.
Ditto Limey. PL and CL is totally different. Tuchel is very experienced in this competition and with nothing left to play for, I think it’s going to be a huge test for Mikel Arteta and the players, many of whom haven’t been here before. As good as we have been, I think this will prove to be a too tough a test.
G’day Rico and all.
The team that will face Bayern Munich tonight is very different to one that lost so heavily a few seasons ago. Today’s Arsenal are much more confident and have a lot more experience of playing against different styles both for Arsenal and for international teams. They have grown up and will not be overawed by the opposition.
I’m fairly confident of them taking three points and giving Bayern something to think about for the return leg.
Afternoon Cicero, I hope you’re right.
Gabriel Jesus feels there is no clear favourite in tonight’s UEFA Champions League tie against Bayern Munich.
Given that we’ve reached the quarter-finals of the competition, there is no reason to be intimidated by the opposition, he pointed out in his press conference yesterday.
“If we arrive in the quarter-finals of the Champions League it’s because we deserve it and we have quality,” he said. “We have to respect Bayern. They are Bayern, but we are Arsenal. They respect us as well so it will be a big game.
“Everyone here played in big stadiums before so everyone is prepared. It’s a huge game and will be a battle but if we try to enjoy it and be happy on the pitch, that will help a lot.”
With the Premier League title race also on the agenda for the rest of the season, Jesus feels we’re well prepared to tackle the upcoming tests thanks to the fitness of the squad.
“It’s the best part of the season for everyone who is still in the Champions League and also fighting for the Premier League,” he said. It’s exciting because these are the deciding games and small details count. Everyone is fit again and I hope everyone can give extra to help the team.
“The most important thing now is the fitness of the group. It’s only JT [Jurrien Timber] out but he’s coming back soon I hope, so this is good because it gives us extra power. We have a big squad with a lot of different qualities. We learned that you have to seize the small details like we’re doing now. Defensively, everyone is running back to help the team.”
Jesus has four goals in six Champions League appearances this season, but is more interested in helping the team generally than padding his individual statistics.
He said: “Maybe in the Premier League I have good stats as well but people don’t want to see! I want to win games and trophies so at the end everyone is happy, but I’m a striker and I want to score, I have to score so I try. It doesn’t matter which competition it is, I try to enjoy myself and help the team the best way I can.”
Isis threat ! Just my bloody luck . I don’t trust Arsenal’s security at the best of times.
Potter, I am guessing that someone throwing a flare on the ground at our last match doesn’t put you at rest, it should be a good match but don’t forget to take your tin hat and steel cap boots
Just heard that on the news. I guess security checks will be tight tonight, tomorrow too. What a world we live in eh…
Since there will be no Bayern supporters in the ground and Arsenal have total control over all ticket sales, and who buys them, keeping trouble makers out should be relatively easy.
It will be up to the security services and anti terrorist police to prevent any demonstrations or attacks outside the ground.
On the whole I think you should be quite safe Potter, although some body armour and a tin hat wouldn’t be an altogether bad idea. 😉
Let’s hope it’s just fake news..
Not long to go now..
Arsenal team to play Bayern:
Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior, Jorginho, Rice, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Havertz.
Subs: Ramsdale, Hein, Partey, Jesus, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Tomiyasu, Trossard, Vieira, Nelson, Elneny, Zinchenko.
Bayern Munich
Neuer, Kimmich, De Ligt, Dier, Davies, Laimer, Goretzka, Sane, Musiala, Gnabry, Kane.
Subs: Peretz, Ulreich, Upamecano, Kim, Coman, Choupo-Moting, Zaragoza, Guerreiro, Muller, Tel, Mazraoui, Pavlovic.
My son said it’s murder getting into the ground, so the threat must be high.
Get in Bukayo… What a goal
Bollox!
Double bollox!
I think we’ve been a bit naive. After going 1-0 we had a period of gung ho football. What on earth was Raya doing for their first?
A superb goal by Saka, awful positioning by Raya for Bayern”s equaliser and the inevitable penalty by Kane to make it 1 – 2 at half-time. What a superb recovery to deny Bayern a third goal by Ben White.
There’s plenty more to come from Arsenal, I think we can still win this.
Good tracking back by Odegaard too.
Trosssssaaaaarrrd!!!
We wuz robbed! A nailed on penalty denied.
We can win the second leg.
We MUST win the second leg.
Wow! The look on Neuer’s face told it all, penalty all day. It’s ridiculous.
I think Saka sticking his leg in prevented the ref from giving it. Only seen it twice though.
It was a penalty, Neuer wasn’t set and was still moving. But having seen it about 10x, Saka should have passed him easily instead of looking for the contact.
I’m still not convinced. Matters not now I guess as it wasn’t given.
just home , not such a lucky charm Rico,
Interesting game to watch live but too much controversy which in their wisdom the club do not show which means that you telly watchers probably know more than I do.
First and foremost should Kane have got a red as opposed to a yellow , he certainly looked to see where Gabriel was before the elbow ,it seemed quite deliberate. Then what was Raya doing coming out and getting in the defences way ? lastly was that a penalty at the finish ? Certainly looked like it but I was near the clock end so was a long way off .
More when I wake up . Too tired after a 120 mile journey back.
Potter glad you didn’t need your tin hat.
Hi All, didn’t get to see the match but was the result correct after all said and done. as most reports ( not Media ) seem to say the ref was for them or he had a bad game. by the sounds of it Kane has still got that Toots hate for Arsenal and will do anythink to get a free kick or injure one of our players and get away with it.
At the end of the day atleast we didn’t loose.
Morning all.
New post up.