Arsenal will be hoping to continue their perfect start to the Champions League when they face Bayern Munich on Wednesday at 8pm (UK time).
The Gunners sit seventh in the early table but have won each of their opening two games, scoring four goals without reply. They beat Napoli 1-0 in their opening match before seeing off Lille 3-0 last weekend. Arsenal have seen similar form domestically, with a 3-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion the only game they’ve failed to win across all competitions.
Bayern Munich are also still unbeaten in the Champions League this season. But they’ve taken four points from their two games. After thrashing Bodo/Glimt 5-0 in their first game, Bayern were held to a 3-3 draw by newcomers Viking Stavanger last week. The German champions have also dropped points twice in the Bundesliga this season, though they sit top of the table. Bayern go into this game off the back of a 6-1 win over RB Leipzig.
While Bayern enjoyed a good run of results against Arsenal, the Gunners won when these sides met at the Emirates Stadium last season.
Bayern Munich vs Arsenal team news
Arsenal team news
Mikel Arteta went pretty strong for Arsenal’s game against Nottingham Forest at the weekend. And he’s unlikely to make too many changes. Noni Madueke came off the bench to score the winner and he may get a start on the left ahead of Eberechi Eze. The latter came under criticism for his performance at the City Ground and still looks to be struggling to find his feet.
Bruno Guimaraes earned a start in midfield alongside Declan Rice and the Brazilian could keep his spot ahead of Myles Lewis-Skelly. The only other point of contention will be at right-back. Jurrien Timber started against Lille last week while Ben White got the nod at the weekend. The Englishman is likely to retain his place for the trip to the Allianz.
Arsenal remain without Piero Hincapie and William Saliba, so White is expected to be joined in defence by Gabriel, Ezri Konsa and Riccardo Calafiori, with Piero Hincapie and William Saliba still injured. Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard will likely retain their spots in the attack, with Kai Havertz favoured over Viktor Gyokeres. Christos Tzolis is still out injured though he has made good progress.
Bayern Munich team news
Vincent Kompany will be without Michael Olise for the visit of Arsenal. The Frenchman was sent off in the draw with Viking for two yellow cards within 30 seconds. The first was for a foul, but Olise received his second for throwing the ball into Zlatko Tripic. Lennart Karl looks likely to replace Olise, having started two Bundesliga matches on the right.
Ismael Saibari will continue in a supporting role behind Harry Kane, with Jamal Musiala still out injured. Luis Diaz is expected to start on the left and goes into the game off the back of a hat-trick against RB Leipzig. Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic are likely to continue in the double pivot.
Bayern are unlikely to change their backline from the weekend. Manuel Neuer remains out injured, so Jonas Urbig will continue in goal. Konrad Laimer has made the right-back his own this season — excluding a brief absence through injury — and Nathaniel Brown looks to have done the same on the left. Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae are the go-to centre-back duo.
Bayern Munich vs Arsenal predicted lineups
Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1): Urbig; Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Brown; Pavlovic, Kimmich; Karl, Saibari, Diaz; Kane.
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Raya; White, Konsa, Saliba, Calafiori; Rice, Guimaraes; Saka, Odegaard, Madueke; Havertz.