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The disastrous exit against Blackburn is being blamed on Wenger’s supposedly erroneous team selection at the Emirates. The Frenchman left Wilshere, Cazorla, Podolski, Walcott and Sagna on the bench with one eye on the upcoming tie with Bayern Munich.
Now, though many big team managers would have followed suit in this situation, the question that arises here is that: Is the CL tie against Bayern Munich really a bigger match for Arsenal now than a FA Cup 5th round tie against a lower League opposition??
The answer to that would seem simple enough to any other club of Arsenal’s statute, but Wenger’s Arsenal, who have not won a single trophy since 2005, who do not have the cash laden firepower in any department to overthrow European superpowers, really needed to understand the significance of one of England’s most prestigious competition.
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Coming back to the present matter of Bayern Munich being entertained at the Emirates on Tuesday night, the Gunners would be facing a much more herculean task than what appears in the build-up. Though Chelsea’s well fought victory over the Bavarians might turn out to be a source of inspiration to touch upon by Wenger, the depth and resilience of the present Arsenal squad no way matches Di Matteo’s Europe conquering team.
How do the team sheets look
The omens for Arsenal brightened up a bit with respect to injury worries and suspensions. Captain Thomas Vermaelen, Kosciencly and widely accepted future captain Jack Wilshere have all successfully returned to the side from niggles. Kieran Gibbs is the only absentee from the regular spots, though this turns out to be a major thorn as we see later.
Heynckes’s Bayern are not so lucky in this regard. Badstuber is out with a season ending injury and fellow CB Boateng is suspended after a straight red. Javi Martinez has been confirmed back in contention after a toe injury but the Spaniard might be asked to shift into the backline due to inconsistencies from the ageing Van Buyten. Schweinsteiger, Muller, Kroos and Ribery are automatic entries into the team, with Mandzukic earning a spot upfront.
Predicted Starting XI:
Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertersacker, Koscienly, Vermaelen, Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud, Walcott
Bayern Munich: Neuer, Lahm, dante, Van Buyten, Alaba, Martinez, Schweinsteiger, Kroos, Ribery, Mandzukic, Muller
Left back worries for Arsenal, Heynckes’s choice of Muller or Robben crucial
Arsenal have again been having inconsistencies at the fullback positions this season, and Gibbs’ injury could not have come at a worse time. With the Englishman out with a thigh strain, Vermaelen will be played at left back with Mertersacker and Koscienly at the centre.
This shift has no doubt brought together Arsenal’s best centre back pairing, as Vermaelen has often been inconsistent in that role. Vermaelen shifting to left back will be a huge improvement over Santos at the same position, though that’s not such a big achievement as even Giroud would have been better than Santos there. But then, looking at the fact that Muller or Robben will be tearing down that flank against Vermaelen is indeed a grave consideration.
In that regard, Arsenal will be fortunate enough if Bayern chose Muller on that wing. Muller, not being a traditional winger, bases his wide right game more on his positioning on that flank, and Vermaelen being a traditional centre back, will be expected to cover his inward off the ball runs. In case Heynckes plays Robben to exploit Vermaelen’s pace and uneasiness on the right foot, Wenger could as well juggle Sagna from right back to play in this role. This would bring in Jenkinson at right back or else put Koscienly there, either of which would again be a big call against the in-form Ribery.
Battles at the centre, Martinez over Gustavo to cover Cazorla
Arsenal’s season until now has had some special moments, and Santi Cazorla’s performances have been in each one of those. Every pundit these days have been referring to his play as ‘getting in between the lines’, and that is exactly where Wenger would play Santi on Tuesday. As Podolski will come right back into the team, Wilshere will have to move back into his deep position so as to put Santi into the No.10 role.
Now Heynckes’s worry will be regarding whom to play next to Schweine to cover Cazorla, and though Gustavo has looked sharp over the past weeks, Martinez’s in-time recovery from his toe injury might just pip him in favor of Gustavo.
Martinez will be crucial in that regard if played, as Arsenal tend to excel around an in-form Santi Cazorla. Here again, Jack Wilshere’s role comes into prominence. The 20 year old tends to glide past his marker and link up with Santi ahead of him. A one-two with Cazorla and Wilshere is away to play in the cutting-in Walcott or Podolski. This is exactly where Schweinsteiger comes in as his role would be to cut out that second pass to Wilshere when Arsenal attack.
Arsenal’s defense looks surprisingly stronger, Kroos could steamroll Arteta
Bayern’s defensive worries could be exposed against Walcott now. Giroud has been able to pull out to the edge of the D-box, which gives Walcott space to dart in diagonally and receive Cazorla/Wilshere’s through balls. Dante would be playing on that side of Bayern’s defence, and based on the England-Brazil friendly’s performance, Dante will definitely have to pull up his socks.
Still, Dante’s reputation precedes him in England. He has easily been one of the best CB’s in the Bundesliga and having conceded just 7 goals in 21 games, his performance for Brazil could be majorly put down to lousy fullback displays there. Fortunately for Heynckes, his fullback cover is much better here. Philip Lahm on the right needs no mention now, though Alaba on the left will have to be much more alert to Walcott’s runs behind him.
Arsenal’s defensive pairing of Mertersacker and Koscienly will be expected to cope with Mandzukic. Mario Mandzukic has been in excellent form with 5 goals in the last 3, and his terrific work-rate will be a major worry for the slow-paced Mertersacker.
Other than him, Arsenal will have to deal with the ever-improving Tony Kroos. Considering the fact that Vermaelen and Sagna could deal with Muller and Ribery somewhat, it will be the late-arriving Kroos who will make the difference.
Kroos has been Bayern’s most important player this season and he will be waiting to capitalize on Arteta’s delays or mistakes. Arteta’s role poses the biggest threat to Arsenal as Muller and Ribery will also tend to drift into that position and overload the Spaniard. Reports suggest that Wenger would prefer Aaron Ramsey ahead of Arteta at that position. But though Ramsey has excelled in the 2-3 games he played in that role, Arteta’s vision and experience will surely prove key for the Gunners.
Wenger will look to salvage his pride by getting in a positive result against the Bavarians. But hoping for an Arsenal win would be stretching it, and the best that the Gooners could hope for is escaping without conceding away goals.
Bayern Munich will look to inflict wounds similar to those done by a certain Pep Guardiola during his time at Barca, and their extraordinary rise will definitely put them in pole position to crack this tie.
PIE Prediction: Arsenal 1-2 Bayern Munich
