UEFA Champions League: Match Preview - Arsenal vs Bayern Munich

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Arsenal suffered a minor blip as they took just one point from their last two league games, following a defeat at Liverpool with a draw against Manchester United, while a draw with Southampton has ensured that they have just one win in their past four league matches.

Bayern are on the run of a lifetime, having yet to be beaten this season in the league, with only Manchester City having bested them in any competition this season.

The last time they dropped a point at all in the league was at the beginning of October, having now registered 13 straight league wins.

Wilshere’s tackle success rate could help Arsenal unsettle Bayern

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Arsenal – Jack Wilshere

It’s safe to assume a lot of this game will be played in the centre of midfield and Arsenal will need a little bit of bite in there to give Bayern’s composed midfielders something to make life a little more uncomfortable.

Wilshere is that man to unsettle the Germans with his feisty style of play, while he also has the ability in the forward areas to unlock a rigid defensive line that has conceded in just two of their last ten games.

Only Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla have created more chances for Arsenal than Wilshere this season, while his 25 tackles at a win rate of 53% will help compensate for the absences of Ramsey and Arteta.

Muller Chances Created

Bayern Munich – Thomas Muller

Pace and power did the trick for Liverpool against Arsenal ten days prior, so it could be expected that Muller has a major impact on this game as he launches his assault on the Gunners from the right hand side of the pitch, though it’s fair to say he’ll play more as an auxiliary striker than a conventional winger.

Muller is a huge creative outlet for Bayern, with only Franck Ribery creating more than the 37 chances he has made, claiming seven assists in the process.

In addition to having created seven goals, Muller also has eight of his own to show for this season at a conversion rate of 20% and will fancy his chances of adding more against the Gunners.

It’s hard to see Arsenal as favourites for this tie overall, but there is a good chance that they could get a result in this tie at home, with their home form having been rather impressive this season, barring that opening day blip against Aston Villa.

Given that observers have afforded Arsenal very little chance of coming away from this with anything, most Gunners fans would be satisfied to see them hold the reigning champions to a draw and Bayern would also be happy to take a stalemate back to the Allianz Arena next month.

Arsenal 2-2 Bayern Munich