Arsenal vs Bayern Munich preview: Team News and Predicted Lineups

Match Overview

Bayern Munich

It is really a case of all or nothing in the Champions League this season for Germany's record champions Bayern Munich.

Sixteen points behind league leaders Bayer 04 after their loss to Heidenheim, the Bavarian side has been very poor in the Bundesliga this campaign. Their two-nil lead away from home at the Voith Arena was eradicated by Tim Kleindienst's heroics.

Adding to this misery, Bayern Munich have lost at the quarter-final stage in all their last three Champions League campaigns (2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23) with their last exit at this stage coming at the hands of Premier League side Manchester City.

Ever the realist, after Bayern's loss to Heidenheim, new sporting director Max Eberl said: "I already said after the Dortmund game that we would have a test of character in Heidenheim. We passed it in the first half and failed in the second half."

He added: "Now we have the Champions League game against Arsenal. All respect to Heidenheim, but they are a bit better than Heidenheim in terms of football."

Arsenal

Arsenal beat Brighton and Hove Albion 3-0 away from home thanks to goals from Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and ex-Bundesliga player Kai Havertz and are now first in the Premier League.

Germany's latest and probably most successful striking solution, Kai Havertz, has scored nine goals and made five assists in the league this season.

Alongside this, Arsenal are the most prolific side in the Premier League this season with seventy-five goals scored and have the biggest home win (6-1 versus Brighton at home) this Premier League season.

The last time they made it to the semi-finals was in the 2008-09 Champions League season where they won in the round of 16 on penalties (just like this year) against Roma and beat Villarreal in the quarter finals.

Lastly, Martin Odegaard (Arsenal midfielder and captain) spoke about Bayern Munich's Harry Kane (who he has faced in many North London derbies) ahead of the tie.

About the striker, he said: "He's a good player, of course, and I have played against him a few times and we know the quality he has in the box and he is also good in the link up."

Team News

Bayern Munich

Sacha Boey is out for Bayern with a muscular injury. Tarek Buchmann and Bouna Sarr are also going to miss Tuesday's tie.

The doubts for Tuesday are Leroy Sané, Manuel Neuer, Aleksandar Pavlović, Noussair Mazraoui and Kingsley Coman. However, all players were present in training on Monday.

Arsenal

Arsenal are only without Jurriën Timber for Tuesday's first leg.

Predicted Lineups

Bayern Munich:

Ulreich; Kimmich, De Ligt, Dier, Davies; Laimer, Goretzka; Gnabry, Müller (c), Musiala; Kane

Arsenal:

‍Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Ødegaard (c), Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Trossard