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Wednesday, 19 February 2014

Arsenal V Bayern Munich Preview



With the FA Cup 6th round qualification duely secured, Arsenal will next host Bayern Munich on wednesday night at the Emirate stadium in the round of 16 stage of the UEFA champions league and will look to avenge their outster in the hands of their opponent at the same stage of the tournament last season.


Arsenal who has been in a very good run of form this season, sitting second on the EPL log table, a good position to contend for the English Premier League, will to be wary of the attacking ability of the resigning European Champions as they have also been in superlative form in the current season in the Bundesliga and in Europe, winning all their group games except one against Manchester City.

The last time out on this same ground at the same stage of the tournament, Bayern Munich were ruthless on their host has they pound Arsenal 3-1 a result that proved very important as they lost 2-0 at the Allianz Arena but qualified on away goals rule and eventually won thetournament defeating fellow German Club, Borrusia Dortmund 2-1 in the final.

Bayern Munich coach Pep Gaurdiola, will be without inspirational french midfielder Frank Ribery due to injury after undergoing surgery on his buttock, Xherdan Shaqiri will also miss the trip to London after pulling his thigh in his sides 4-0 win over Freiburg on Saturday but there is however a boost for the coach as  Bastian Schweinsteiger and Daniel Van Buyten maybe available for selection after long time out with ankle and knee injuries respectively.

Arsenal on their part will be without experienced midfield enforcer, Mikel Arteta who is suspended after receiving his matching orders in their last group game against Napoli, and in comes another Midfield meastro, Tomas Rosicky, who once ply his trade in the Bundesliga with Dortmund before joining Arsenal, Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazolar, Olivier Giroud, Kieron Gibbs and Bacary Sagna are all expected to return to the starting lineup after been rested in the club's FA cup 5th round fixture agaisnt Liverpool on Sunday.

Aaron Ramsey is still ruled out so there wont be a show for the Walsh man who was in a scincilating form before his injury.

Going into the nights match, Bayern Munich has won their last 5 matches while Arsenal has won two, drew two lost one.

Since the victory for Arsenal at the Allianz Arena last season, statistics has shown that the Gunners has been more imposing winning more games than they did before the game.

Before the match at Allianz Arena last season, Arsenal played 49 games, won 23, drew 14 and lost 12, a win percentage of 47% but since that win, they have won 34, drawn eight and lost seven taking the win percentage to 70%.

Arsenal do have a formidable Bayern barrier to overcome as their defence has been doing very well this season than they have in previous years, but Wenger and his players can take comfort in their impressive statistics since they won in Munich and the manner in which they have responded to their most humiliating defeat of the season; losing to Liverpool 5-1 at Anfield.  


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