Arsenal vs Bayern Munich predictions: Gunners look good for first-leg win
- Arsenal have won five of their last six games in all competitions
- Bayern Munich have lost their last two
- Recommended bet: Arsenal to win to zero
In-form Arsenal can put themselves in a great position to advance to the Champions League semi-finals with a first-leg victory over Bayern Munich at the Emirates.
The Gunners are currently involved in a thrilling three-way title race in the Premier League as they battle Liverpool and Manchester City for domestic glory, but now they switch focus to their European challenge.
Mikel Arteta's side are on a fine run of form, with 11 wins from their last 13 games in all competitions. In that spell they have racked up 39 goals and conceded just five, picking up eight clean sheets in the process.
Bayern's title defence in Germany, meanwhile, is all but over as they trail champions-elect Bayer Leverkusen by 16 points and even though they have former Tottenham striker Harry Kane, who scored 14 times in 19 North London derbies against Arsenal, in their line-up, the German giants look set to be in for a difficult night.
Team news
Bukayo Saka is expected to be fit for the hosts despite being taken off just past the hour mark in Saturday's 3-0 win at Brighton.
Gabriel Martinelli and Takehiro Tomiyasu were both on the bench for the Amex Stadium victory and are among those pushing for starts if Arteta decides to make changes.
Jurrien Timber remains on the sidelines as he continues to recover from his serious knee injury.
Bayern are definitely without Gabriel Marusic, Sacha Boey, Tarek Buchmann, Bouna Sarr and Noel Aseko, while Manuel Neuer, Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman, Noussair Mazraoui and Aleksandar Pavlovic are all rated as major doubts.
The stats
The Gunners finished top of Group B with four wins, one draw and one defeat.
Bayern were Group A winners with a record of five wins and one draw.
Arsenal beat FC Porto on penalties in the last 16 after losing 1-0 away in the first leg and then winning the return game at home by the same scoreline.
Bayern lost their last-16 first-leg tie at Lazio 1-0, but progressed to this stage thanks to a comfortable 3-0 success in the home leg.
The two teams have met 12 times in the Champions League previously, with Bayern winning seven of those matches, while Arsenal have won three times and there have been two draws.
Prediction
Arsenal could be set for a fantastic finish to the season, both at home and in Europe, as Arteta's men chase glory in the Premier League and Champions League.
If they get past Bayern in the last eight they will line up in the semi-finals of the continent's top club competition for the first time since 2009 and their recent stunning form suggests they are good enough to claim a first-leg lead to take to the Allianz Arena later this month.
The Gunners have won their last six home matches and so far in the Champions League at the Emirates this season they have played four, won four, with 13 goals scored and none conceded.
Arsenal's success this term has been build on that rock-solid defence and they welcome Bayern to the Emirates on the back of four straight clean sheets.
The visitors, in contrast, have lost consecutive games against Borussia Dortmund and Heidenheim and their Bundesliga title defence is in tatters as they sit 16 points behind leaders Leverkusen.
Bayern have won the last three Champions League meetings between the two clubs 5-1, but Arsenal should be able to avenge those heavy defeats by securing a first-leg advantage and picking up yet another clean sheet.
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