Photo Credit: Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images.

By Paul Stevens.

While the overall head-to-head record between Bayern and Arsenal is heavily in favour of the German side historically, the games have been much more competitive, and Arsenal are slight favourites going into this fixture due – in part – to last years 3-1 win at the Emirates.

The two sides have previously met fifteen times. Bayern came out victorious on eight of those occasions. Three fixtures were drawn and Arsenal won the four remaining matches.

Three of the four wins for Arsenal came at home. We must look all the way back to March 2013 to find the first and only Arsenal win at Bayern’s Allianz Arena. Even though Arsenal is the stronger side currently, the match will be incredibly competitive, and the gunners will need to cope in one of the most daunting away atmospheres in all of Europe.

Bayern have played eight matches this season, winning once and drawing one game in the Champions League.

The German Champions have also won their first-round DFB-Pokal match, which is a domestic cup competition in Germany.

It is Bayern’s League form that is most interesting. Six games played. Four wins. Two draws. Zero losses. In three of the six wins they had scored at least five goals in what has been a sensational start to the season.

The Bayern team come into the Arsenal fixture on the back of a huge 6-1 win against RB Leipzig. Dangerous left winger Luis Diaz scored a fine hat trick. Striker Harry Kane was also on the score sheet.

There are numerous tactical battles that will be intriguing to watch as the match progresses; Bayern Winger Luis Dias up against Jurien Timber, youngster Lennart Karl vs Ricardo Calafiori. Bukayo Saka up against highly rated Nathaniel Brown and finally Martin Odegaard who will likely clash with Ismael Saibari.

Treatment Table.

William Saliba will be the most notable absentee from the Arsenal side that last faced Bayern Munich. While the Frenchman is improving every day from his long term back injury, this fixture comes far too soon for the centre back to feature.

Piero Hincapie will also miss the match with his ankle injury sustained in the Leeds post-match warm down incident.

Christos Tzolis will also miss out with his long-term hamstring issue.

For Bayern, one player that misses out entirely of his own making is world class winger Michael Olise, who was shown a second yellow card in Bayern’s game week-two fixture away at Norwegian Minnows Viking.

Attacking midfielder Jamal Musiala looks likely to miss out with a torn muscle, although the player has been seen training.

Another doubt is experienced goalkeeper Manuel Neuer who has suffered a foot injury. This would be an enormous blow to the German Champions.

Player Focus.

This week’s player focus will look at Gabriel Magalhaes. The rock-solid defender has faced many challenging attackers who have targeted Arsenal’s backline. Harry Kane will present many different problems. While Kane has undoubtedly lost much of his pace as he enters the twilight of his career, the English striker has lost none of his ability to finish between the posts. When Bayern advance the ball into dangerous areas, Gabriel will be the player tasked to seal out the danger and prevent Kane from troubling David Raya in the Arsenal goal.

It is not only Kane’s ability to finish that will keep Gabriel busy, but the Bayern forward also has a tendency to intelligently drop into midfield to link up with his fellow attackers, most notably Michael Olise who will be unavailable through suspension. Kane’s impressive movement will require Gabriel to make many choices throughout the game; either follow his opponent into areas no normal centre back should go and hope his teammates can cover the hole in Arsenal’s back four, or hand off Kane to a central midfield player which will likely be Declan Rice and hope the midfield player continues to track Bayern’s striker.

This promises to be one of many fascinating battles between two players at the height of their powers. The player who comes out on top will likely have played a key part in the entire outcome of the fixture.

Predicted Line-Up.

I feel Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly field his strongest possible line up for this monumental clash. Even without Musiala and Olise, Bayern have a squad of incredible talent and Arsenal will have to play at their best to win this match.

In goal, David Raya.

Left back, Ricardo Calafiori.

Left centre back, Gabriel Magalhaes.

Right centre back, Ezri Konza.

Right back, Jurien Timber.

As the six, Declan rice.

Left eight, Bruno Guimaraes.

Right eight, Martin Odegaard.

Left wing, Noni Madueke.

Right wing, Bukayo Saka.

Striker, Kai Havertz.