Arsenal v Bayern. The line up, the Odegaard situation and recent results

 

 

• • Arsenal v Bayern: it’s a funny old game
  • How to predict the score of a game between Arsenal and Bayern Munich
  • Arsenal’s record against Bayern is poor, but who wants ceaseless success?

 

By Tony Attwood

There is a general bit of chit chat going around in the media that Odegaard will be back for this gam.  Arteta said of Odegaard, “He was very close for the previous game. We are hopeful that tomorrow he can be in the squad as well.”

The Standard adds that Arsenal are still set to be without a recognised striker, though, as Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres were absent from training.

The Standard also gives us a predicted team for the visitors, but has nothing to say about the Arsenal XI.   Here’s their team sheet

 Neuer;

Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Guerreiro;

Pavlovic, Kimmich;

Olise, Karl, Gnabry; Kane

 

You may well remember Serge Gnabry, who played 10 games for Arsenal and then had a big falling out because he wasn’t being picked for every match (or something like that) and demanded a transfer.  He was the second youngest ever Arsenal player in the League, and four days after that record break, he came on as a sub in a Champs League game   He made his first team debut in September 2013 and played 14 times in the 2013/14 season, but later demanded a transfer.

Back in the present world, for Arsenal, Arteta has been talking about positive news for  Havertz, who has been out since August with a knee injury.   And it would appear that Gabriel Jesus is back in full training, but Arteta has hinted he will play a friendly behind closed doors before returning to first-team action.

The Standard commentary adds that, “Myles Lewis-Skelly may come into the team at left-back, while Ben White is an option on the other flank.   Wingers Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke are both available, which has eased Arsenal’s injury crisis in attack.”   

In the end they go with

Sporting News gives us a final score prediction which says, in their 18 games this season, Bayern have scored 64 goals, but they have quite a few injury and suspension issues in attack, with Kompany likely to be a bit more pragmatic in the English capital city.

“Like Bayern, Arsenal are also expected to be a little cautious against such strong opposition, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the two sides shake hands on a score draw after 90 minutes.”

Many websites are not venturing into evem that that much guesswork of who will be playing but the Metro has a go 

Raya;

Timber, Saliba, Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly;

Odegaard,Zubimendi, Rice;

Saka, Merino, Martinelli

So several changes from the Standard’s rundown.

And I was then going to give you the suggested Arsenal line-up from Bavaraian News Lists, which would be a first, but they don’t do the Arsenal team, only the visitors, so I can’t.

Plus, instead of looking again at all the games between the two teams, we can limit it just to the recent Champions League games, and here they are