With some help from OPTA, here are 13 things you should know about Arsenal and Bayern Munich ahead of their Champions League clash at The Emirates tomorrow night:
1. Arsenal and Bayern Munich have met only four times before in the Champions League, with the Germans picking up to wins, Arsenal winning one and the other being a draw.
2. The last time these two sides met was back in the 2004/05 season in the Round of 16. Bayern won the tie 3-2 on aggregate.
3. The Gunners have an impressive record against German opposition in the Champions League, winning six of their last seven home games.
4. Out of their last 17 knockout games at home in the Champions League, Arsenal have only lost two, one against Chelsea in 2004 and in 2009 against Manchester United.
5. Among the 16 qualified teams, Arsenal have had the fewest shots on goal with 47, but are the most efficient, scoring every 4.7 shots.
6. Olivier Giroud has racked up four assists in the group stages of the competitions this season, second only to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has five to his name.
7. Lukas Podolski has netted three goals from three shots on target.
8. Bayern have not picked up a win on English soil since April 2001.
9. Bayern have scored in each of their last 12 Champions League games. February 2012 was the last time they failed to find the net.
10. The Bavarian giants conceded the fewest shots on target in the group stages (17).
11. Bayern had more shots on target from outside the box than any other side in the group stages (17).
12. Bayern had the most goal-scorers in this season’s group stages (9).
13. Mario Gomez has impressively found the net 25 times in his last 26 Champions League starts.
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lukas podolski will score
I’m sorry I can not realistically go into this match with anything but a HOPE as I have seen Bayern play this season and I just saw more then half of the player’s involved in this match in the Germany/France international a week ago. For Arsenal to win several VERY VERY good of Bayern’s players are going to have to have a REALLY BAD day. There is 2 strengths in tat Poldolski and Mertesacker know their Gemany National team mates but I do not know if that will make much difference.
Mario Gómez or Müller will be a handfull for our CBs and then behind are 3 midfielders that like to score goals
I do not know what the lie up will be but Robben, Ribéry, Kroos can all score and ether Robben or Ribéry is capable to breaking down any defense single handed.
THis is a tall order for Arsenal I hope for the best but more realistically I hope we just don’t get taken apart completely by far this will be the toughest Match of the year. AS even ManU who currently sit at the top 12 points clear at teh top of the EPL would have a hard time beating Bayern.
I know the Arsenal players have to go out believing that they CAN win And I hope they go out and have a the Game of their lives well maybe not their lives as if we are to win it all we need to repeat that performance as it is a 2 leg knockout. but just say the best game they have played in there life so far. Good luck Arsenal Your going to need it.