Arsenal take on hosts Bayern Munich in the return leg of the UEFA Champions League Quarter Finals. Progress into the semi-finals hangs in the balance, with the 2-2 aggregate score. This decisive match kicks off at the Allianz Arena is at 8:00 GMT. Last Word on Football brings you an Arsenal predicted lineup for their match against Bayern Munich.
Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs Bayern Munich
How Arsenal Have Lined up Recently
Arsenal play with a 4-3-3, which Arteta has tended to favour this season. David Raya is the number one choice goalkeeper for the Gunners. Raya has started eight out of the nine UEFA Champions League games Arsenal have had this season. In doing so, he has kept four clean sheets in the tournament so far.
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Moreover, Raya saved two crucial penalties in the shootout against Porto, gaining Arsenal qualification to the quarter-finals. Aaron Ramsdale did start Arsenal’s last group-stage match against PSV Eindhoven, though.
Ben White remains the constant at right back. He was Arsenal’s player of the month. He assisted the opening goal of the first leg against Bayern. So far this season, he has played 44 matches with seven goal contributions.
🟢 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛𝘿𝘼𝙔 🔵
🆚 FC Bayern Munich
🕗 8pm (UK)
🏆 Champions League
🏟 Fußball Arena München pic.twitter.com/jiVMqK9pul— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 17, 2024
William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães are the constants at centre back. The last time that Saliba didn’t complete a match was in December against PSV, where he played 62 minutes in an already-decided group. Gabriel has played every minute for Arsenal since he was on the bench against Fulham back in early August of last year.
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The left-back position have not been so consistent. Jacob Kiwior was Arsenal’s main right-back this year but was benched against Brighton, presumably so he could start against Bayern midweek. Oleksandr Zinchenko has started the last two league matches at this position, yet Takehiro Tomiyasu has made appearances through substitutions.
The midfield three has been fairly consistent with Declan Rice, Jorginho and Martin Ødegaard. Yet, this was altered by Mikel Arteta’s last match, as Jorginho was benched for Kai Havertz with Ødegaard occupying the centre midfield position. Thomas Partey and Emile Smith Rowe also started recently in a 2-0 home win against Luton Town.
The front three have also been changed recently due to a foot injury to Gabriel Martinelli. Bukayo Saka starts at right wing. He scored the opening goal in the first leg. Kai Havertz has also been fairly consistent starting at striker. He has had four goal contributions in his last four league matches, including a late winner against Brentford.
In Arsenal’s latest match against Aston Villa, Trossard started at left wing with Gabriel Jesus starting up front. Yet, in the first leg, Gabriel Martinelli returned from injury to start, alongside Saka and Havertz who have both been so pivotal for Arsenal this season.
Recent Form
Arsenal’s unbeaten run came to an end when they lost 2-0 at home to Aston Villa which is only their second home defeat of the season and their first in 2024. In their last five league matches they have picked up 10 out of a possible 15 points with only Manchester City having better form.
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In their last five matches in all competitions, Arsenal drew with Manchester City at the Etihad in a vital point in the title race. Jesus came close for the Gunners in the first half with the second half being much more defensive
Arsenal then won 2-0 at home against a Luton Town side in a relegation battle and then beat Brighton at the Amex Stadium. In both of these games combined, Mikel Arteta’s side has 33 shots in total, only conceding 15 shots combined. Moreover, Arsenal had an xG of 3.23 against Brighton with the Seagulls only having an xG themselves of 0.5.
The Gunners then faced Bayern Munich in their first Champions League quarter-finals since 2011. Arsenal struck first in the opening fifteen minutes with Ben White assisting Bukayo Saka who scored from off the wing. Bayern struck back after a defensive mistake was capitalised by Leon Goretzka who set up former Arsenal player Serge Gnabry to win a penalty which Harry Kane duly converted. However, Arsenal were able to rescue a result with Trossard having an impact off the bench to score after a great run in the box by Gabriel Jesus.
In their latest game, Arsenal lost 2-0 to Unai Emery’s Aston Villa. Arsenal started the first half relatively strong, having more possession, having 14 shots and missing two major chances. Yet, Villa were the better side in the second half, creating three big chances which were well taken by Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins three minutes later.
Injury News
Arsenal may have a fully fit squad, subject to late fitness tests for Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.
Mikel Arteta said in his pre-match presser: “Hopefully. We’ve had less than 48 hours to recover from the game and we’ve had very little training, so we will assess them tomorrow and see how they are.”
Jurrien Timber had been injured since August but has made a return to full training.
Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs Bayern Munich
GK – David Raya
LB – Ben White
CB – William Saliba
CB – Gabriel Magalhães
RB – Takehiro Tomiyasu
LM – Declan Rice
CM – Jorginho
RM – Martin Odegaard
LW – Bukayo Saka
ST – Kai Havertz
RW – Gabriel Martinelli
