Fans are gearing up for a UEFA Champions League classic after many years of being starved.
Arsenal will be taking on Bayern Munich in one of the 2023/24 quarter-finals for the first time since 2017 which, coincidentally, happened to be the last time Arsenal played in the UCL until this season.
Both teams have varying histories in the competition. However, history is something that is easily thrown out of the window in football, especially in tournaments like the Champions League.
We will take a look at Arsenal’s chances against Bayern Munich in their upcoming clash in this article.
Arsenal in the Champions League
Arsenal first appeared in the UEFA Champions League in 1972, which is the latest of all the teams left in the tournament. However, they hold a cherished record: the longest clean sheet run in Champions League history.
They set this record between the 2004/05 season and the 2005/06 season. Coincidentally, they got to the final of the 2005/06 season’s edition of the tournament which is where their clean sheet run ended.
That remains their only final appearance to date but they have been able to reach the quarter-finals on eight of their 22 appearances in the competition.
Their semi-final record is more modest. They have only been to two semi-finals in their history, with one ending in an appearance in the final.
Bayern is the thorn in their side in the competition. Both teams have been drawn to face each other six previous times, which translates to 12 home and away games. Four of those ties were knockout games, which translates to eight home and away games.
Arsenal have never progressed beyond Bayern whenever they meet in the knockouts. They have won games, yes (head-to-head record is three wins for Arsenal, seven for Bayern), but the aggregate scoreline always ends up in favour of the Bavarians.
This current iteration of Arsenal led by Mikel Arteta, however, looks like the team to break that duck.
Bayern Munich in the Champions League
Bayern Munich are six-time winners of Europe’s most prestigious trophy, the Ol’ Big Ears of the UEFA Champions League. This places them joint third with Liverpool on the list of all-time winners of the competition, one behind second-placed AC Milan with their seven trophies and eight behind all-time leaders Real Madrid.
Their history is solid. Their first win was in 1973/74 and their most recent win was in 2019/20. They have made 39 appearances which places them in third on the all-time list of teams who have played in both iterations of the competition to date.
They have 33 quarter-final appearances, which places them in fifth on the all-time list of teams with the most quarter-final appearances in both iterations of the competition.
From these 33 quarter-final appearances, they have made 20 semi-final appearances, which places them only behind Real Madrid as the most successful knockout round team in the competition’s history. They are tied in second with AC Milan for the most final appearances, however.
They are not called Der Rekordmeister for nothing. The German giants and several players associated with them hold several records in the tournament. They are one of the most formidable sides to face in the Champions League and are always a favorite every season.
Their current run is shaky, but history will play a big role going into their match with Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta vs Thomas Tuchel
Mikel Arteta and Thomas Tuchel know each other from their time in the Premier League. Both managers faced each other only thrice, but it was enough for both to get a feel of each other’s style.
Arsenal fans will be worried, however. The Spaniard has lost two of the three matches he has played against Tuchel. With the firepower of Bayern Munich under Tuchel’s control, things could get messy for the Gunners.
Mikel Arteta
| Statistics | Numbers |
| Matches Played | 40 |
| League | 28 |
| Domestic Cup (EFL and FA Cups) | 3 |
| Continental Cup (UCL) | 8 |
| Won | 27 |
| Drawn | 5 |
| Lost | 8 |
| Goals scored | 89 |
| Goals conceded | 34 |
| Points (from league) | 64 |
Thomas Tuchel
| Statistics | Numbers |
| Matches Played | 37 |
| League | 26 |
| Domestic Cup | 2 |
| Domestic Super Cup | 1 |
| Continental Cup (UCL) | 8 |
| Won | 26 |
| Drawn | 4 |
| Lost | 7 |
| Goals scored | 98 |
| Goals conceded | 43 |
| Points (from league) | 60 |
Formation and style of play
Both managers have not deviated from the 4-3-3 this season.
In possession, Arteta’s team tends to shift into a 4-1-4-1 with Declan Rice/Jorginho as the deep-lying pivot playmaker while Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz support the wingers.
The same is true for Tuchel who uses the double pivot version of the formation so that Jamal Musiala or Thomas Muller can play as the roaming midfielder behind the striker.
Both have attacking styles of play which will be exciting to witness.
Predicting Arsenal’s chances against Bayern
Match tickets
Arsenal vs Bayern Munich tickets for the first leg on 9 April 2024 and Bayern Munich vs Arsenal tickets for the second leg on 17 April 2024 are on sale at seatsnet.com. They have sold out on both clubs’ official platforms and are selling out on ticket reselling platforms like Seatsnet. Fans will do well to visit these platforms if they want to see the game live.
What to expect
The Emirates has been a fortress this season. Arsenal have failed to win only four times (2D, 2L) at their home ground this season. In the UCL, they have not lost a single match there. Bayern, on the other hand, has one of the best away records in Europe this season. Both teams are also high-volume chance creators and goalscorers but Arsenal happens to be a lot more stable at the back than Bayern this season.
A Harry Kane goal, however, is a guarantee in this game. The match will be decided at the Allianz Arena where Thomas Tuchel will work to make sure he keeps up Der Rekordmeister’s record against the Gunners.
Prediction: Arsenal can get their revenge
Arsenal might probably not win by a 5-1 scoreline, in a result that the club’s fans are well familiar with against Bayern Munich. However, this is a different looking Arsenal that have no reason to be afraid of the Germans.
Bayern Munich have been nowhere near their dominant best this season and there is no better time for the Gunners to get one past them than now.