Ahead of Bayern Munich’s home clash with Arsenal, each team’s UAE Supporters Clubs preview the game for Sport360, including predicting the likely XIs and picking their players to watch.
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Ali M, MIA SAN MIA UAE (Bayern Munich Official Supporters’ Club)
FC Bayern are currently in the form of their lives, after breaking the record for most straight wins in the Bundesliga with 10 in a row and knocking Wolfsburg out of the DFB-Pokal. Moreover, Bayern have almost every player fit again as Mehdi Benatia, Franck Ribery and Holger Badstuber are back in training, while Arjen Robben and Kingsley Coman are back in the team. Now only Mario Gotze and Sebastian Rode are missing due to injuries.
Against Arsenal, who appear to have found their groove in the English Premier League, the challenge will be to prove that Bayern really are a team to fear on the continent. Losing to the Gunners last time out was disappointing and Pep Guardiola’s side will be determined to show that there is more to them than just steamrolling Bundesliga teams.
Arsenal and Bayern are familiar opponents, with this clash to be their third double-header in the past four seasons. The 2013 and 2014 meetings were in the last-16 stage, with Bayern progressing on both occasions. It’s a game that has always been hard on both teams with Bayern winning four of them and drawing two – no team has ever won by more than two goals.
Gutes Omen? Der #FCBayern schoss in den letzten fünf CL-Heimspielen immer mindestens drei Tore. #packmas! #FCBARS pic.twitter.com/7ipmtxub65
— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) November 4, 2015
This time Bayern will have the power of ‘CoCo’ – the term fans are using as they refer to the Coman-Douglas Costa partnership on the wings as they provide the sort of much needed pace that Bayern missed last season due to injuries. That, with the help of overlapping runs made by David Alaba and Lahm can be the key to success for Bayern.
PREDICTION: Bayern Munich 3-1 Arsenal.
LIKELY BAYERN MUNICH XI: Neuer; Lahm, Boateng, Martinez, Alaba; Alonso, Thiago; Coman, Muller, Costa; Lewandowski
BAYERN MUNICH PLAYER TO WATCH: Kinsley Coman. The 19-year-old has a lot of spark in his game; he always tries to stay on his feet and creates chances from the wings.
ARSENAL PLAYER TO FEAR: Petr Cech. The big Czech goalkeeper proved during the first game that it will take something really special to beat him.
FAVOURITE ARSENAL-BAYERN MUNICH MOMENT: Claudio Pizarro’s first goal in a 3-1 victory in 2005. It came in the third minute of the game after a long ball from goalkeeper Oliver Kahn!
WHERE TO WATCH: We gather in different places for different games – the best way to know is by contacting us on Twitter or Facebook.
TWITTER: @FCBayernUAE
FACEBOOK: Mia San Mia UAE
Richard Dcruze, ARSENAL UAE
A fortnight ago, it seemed that Arsenal would be saying goodbye to the Champions League for the first time at the group stages. Nobody expected them to beat Bayern Munich, the best team in Europe and a side who have been destroying opponents at will this season. But the unthinkable happened. Bayern Munich were humbled at Emirates Stadium and there was a huge sigh of relief amongs the players, the manager and us fans alike.
Sitting third in the table with three points, Arsenal travel to Munich and face the German champions in their backyard; the Gunners Champions League campaign really starts before. Arsenal have beaten Bayern before at the Allianz Arena and have shown Pep Guardiola’s side to be fallible.
The Gunners have been in impeccable form this season in the Premier League, sitting behind Manchester City on goal difference – even with the now mandatory injury list featuring several of the club’s best players. After losing Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain in the humiliating Capital One Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, Arsenal picked themselves up and went on to beat Swansea City, making a statement to the rest of the league that they aren’t done just yet.
That match also saw Joel Campbell impress, the Costa Rican scored on his first start for the Gunners. It was a moment of joy to see talented forward make the most out of his chance and come out successful. Wednesday will see him face his toughest test against the likes of Arjen Robben and Philipp Lahm.
It’s not going to be easy in Munich. Bayern will be going out guns blazing, looking to exact revenge. All we need to do is hold on – a draw would still be an ideal result. Arsene Wenger will also be hoping to return to London injury free as we can’t afford to lose any more players. need to come back to London injury free.
PREDICTION: Bayern Munich 1-1 Arsenal
LIKELY ARSENAL XI: Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal,; Coquelin, Cazorla, Sanchez, Ozil; Campbell, Giroud
ARSENAL PLAYER TO WATCH: Hector Bellerin. The Spaniard has really stepped up his game since last season. The way he dashed out from his own half to take the ball and charge into the Bayern box in the dying stages of the last game between the sides was incredible.
BAYERN MUNICH PLAYER TO WATCH: Robert Lewandowski. He’s been on some form recently with goal after goal after goal. He was unfortunate not to have scored against Arsenal last time out, after Coquelin kept him at bay. He will be expecting to right those wrongs on Wednesday.
FAVOURITE BAYERN-ARSENAL MEMORY: They are few and far between so it has to be the victory at the Emirates two weeks ago. We became the first team to beat two Pep Guardiola-managed teams in Europe.
WHERE TO WATCH: Arsenal UAE’s Dubai branch gathers at Velocity Bar JW Marquis in Business Bay. For Gooners in the capital, the Arsenal UAE Abu Dhabi chapter gather at Harvester’s in Holiday Inn Downtown.
TWITTER: @AFCUAE
FACEBOOK: Arsenal UAE
For more information on how to become an Arsenal UAE member contact: [email protected]
