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Arsenal vs. Bayern could be the Champions League at it’s best

Arsenal vs. Bayern could be the Champions League at it’s best

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Arsenal and Bayern Munich are both enjoying excellent seasons with Champions League glory in their sights.

By Graham Ruthven

Arsenal and Bayern Munich both played like the champions of their respective leagues over the weekend. 24 hours after the latter put six goals past Freiburg in a 6-2 thumping to tighten their grip on top spot in the Bundesliga, the former claimed victory in the North London Derby to go six points clear in the Premier League.

Of course, Bayern already have the Bundesliga crown to prove their domestic dominance. Arsenal, on the other hand, are attempting to win the Premier League title for the first time since the days of Arsene Wenger. After years of development under Mikel Arteta, many believe this is finally their season.

It could be their season in Europe too. Arsenal have a perfect record in the Champions League, winning all four of their opening League Phase Fixtures. Bayern Munich have done the same, scoring 14 goals in the process. Wednesday’s meeting at the Emirates Stadium looks like being a clash between Europe’s two best teams right now.

Arteta and Vincent Kompany are two managers who want control above anything else, although the way Arsenal and Bayern Munich implement that control is rather different. While Kompany sets up his team to dominate the ball, Arteta puts just as much focus on his out of possession shape.

This isn’t to say that Bayern Munich neglect their defensive duties. In fact, only a handful of teams in the Champions League this season have won possession in the attacking third more times than the German champions. They press from the front and create opportunities from counter-pressing moments.

Arsenal, however, control games by covering space. Opponents have a tough time of playing through the double pivot of Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi and even if they are able to get through the Gunners have the Premier League’s strongest defensive line to put up another barrier.

Bayern Munich’s defensive barrier tends to be positioned on the halfway line. Last season, this was a problem. Champions League opponents were able to hit the Bavarians on the break, exploiting the space in behind Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano. Inter Milan certainly did this as they knocked out Bayern in the quarter-finals.

This season, though, the space in behind the backline hasn’t been so much of a problem. Some of this is due to the additional protection now being offered in central midfield where natural number six Aleksandar Pavlović has made himself first-choice. Some of it has been down to the signing of Jonathan Tah whose positional sense is far superior to Min-jae’s.

Summer signings have also made an impact for Arsenal. Viktor Gyökeres has given them an orthodox attacking frontman, although the Swedish striker won’t face Bayern on Wednesday due to injury. Zubimendi has been an upgrade on Thomas Partey at the base of the midfield while Noni Madueke, Piero Hincapié, Christian Nørgaard and Cristhian Mosquera have all offered depth.

Eberechi Eze, however, is the new addition altering the landscape for Arsenal more than any other. The 27-year-old is an all-round creative threat, as he demonstrated by netting a hat trick in Sunday’s North London Derby. He can shoot, he can dribble, he can pass – Eze could prove to be Arsenal’s most significant signing in years.

For more graphics like this – follow @fotmobapp on Instagram

“Since the day that he came, he brought something else to the team,” said Arteta after Eze’s performance against Tottenham Hotspur. “So it’s a joy, it’s an aura that this team needed and hopefully it will give him a lot of confidence, to him and the team, that at any moment he can win us a game. And that’s the ability that he has and he certainly needs to fulfil that talent.”

Wednesday’s match could be decided by a variety of difference-makers. Harry Kane could add to his tally of 24 goals in all competitions. Bukayo Saka might find space and opportunity down the right side. Michael Olise could create something out of nothing. The game might be set up for Arsenal to convert yet another set piece play.

Arsenal and Bayern Munich could use the chance to size up each other ahead of a possible meeting further down the line in this season’s Champions League. Both teams are already all but assured of their place in the knockout rounds. Wednesday’s meeting could happen again later in the campaign.

The Champions League’s new format was designed to facilitate more matches between Europe’s best teams at an earlier stage. Wednesday’s game will be one to savour, and possibly one to learn something from if Arsenal and Bayern Munich are to clash again this season. This could be the Champions League at its best.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Champions League on FotMob this season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Arsenal vs. Bayern could be the Champions League at it’s best

Arsenal and Bayern Munich are both enjoying excellent seasons with Champions League glory in their sights.

By Graham Ruthven

Arsenal and Bayern Munich both played like the champions of their respective leagues over the weekend. 24 hours after the latter put six goals past Freiburg in a 6-2 thumping to tighten their grip on top spot in the Bundesliga, the former claimed victory in the North London Derby to go six points clear in the Premier League.

Of course, Bayern already have the Bundesliga crown to prove their domestic dominance. Arsenal, on the other hand, are attempting to win the Premier League title for the first time since the days of Arsene Wenger. After years of development under Mikel Arteta, many believe this is finally their season.

It could be their season in Europe too. Arsenal have a perfect record in the Champions League, winning all four of their opening League Phase Fixtures. Bayern Munich have done the same, scoring 14 goals in the process. Wednesday’s meeting at the Emirates Stadium looks like being a clash between Europe’s two best teams right now.

Arteta and Vincent Kompany are two managers who want control above anything else, although the way Arsenal and Bayern Munich implement that control is rather different. While Kompany sets up his team to dominate the ball, Arteta puts just as much focus on his out of possession shape.

This isn’t to say that Bayern Munich neglect their defensive duties. In fact, only a handful of teams in the Champions League this season have won possession in the attacking third more times than the German champions. They press from the front and create opportunities from counter-pressing moments.

Arsenal, however, control games by covering space. Opponents have a tough time of playing through the double pivot of Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi and even if they are able to get through the Gunners have the Premier League’s strongest defensive line to put up another barrier.

Bayern Munich’s defensive barrier tends to be positioned on the halfway line. Last season, this was a problem. Champions League opponents were able to hit the Bavarians on the break, exploiting the space in behind Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano. Inter Milan certainly did this as they knocked out Bayern in the quarter-finals.

This season, though, the space in behind the backline hasn’t been so much of a problem. Some of this is due to the additional protection now being offered in central midfield where natural number six Aleksandar Pavlović has made himself first-choice. Some of it has been down to the signing of Jonathan Tah whose positional sense is far superior to Min-jae’s.

Summer signings have also made an impact for Arsenal. Viktor Gyökeres has given them an orthodox attacking frontman, although the Swedish striker won’t face Bayern on Wednesday due to injury. Zubimendi has been an upgrade on Thomas Partey at the base of the midfield while Noni Madueke, Piero Hincapié, Christian Nørgaard and Cristhian Mosquera have all offered depth.

Eberechi Eze, however, is the new addition altering the landscape for Arsenal more than any other. The 27-year-old is an all-round creative threat, as he demonstrated by netting a hat trick in Sunday’s North London Derby. He can shoot, he can dribble, he can pass – Eze could prove to be Arsenal’s most significant signing in years.

For more graphics like this – follow @fotmobapp on Instagram

“Since the day that he came, he brought something else to the team,” said Arteta after Eze’s performance against Tottenham Hotspur. “So it’s a joy, it’s an aura that this team needed and hopefully it will give him a lot of confidence, to him and the team, that at any moment he can win us a game. And that’s the ability that he has and he certainly needs to fulfil that talent.”

Wednesday’s match could be decided by a variety of difference-makers. Harry Kane could add to his tally of 24 goals in all competitions. Bukayo Saka might find space and opportunity down the right side. Michael Olise could create something out of nothing. The game might be set up for Arsenal to convert yet another set piece play.

Arsenal and Bayern Munich could use the chance to size up each other ahead of a possible meeting further down the line in this season’s Champions League. Both teams are already all but assured of their place in the knockout rounds. Wednesday’s meeting could happen again later in the campaign.

The Champions League’s new format was designed to facilitate more matches between Europe’s best teams at an earlier stage. Wednesday’s game will be one to savour, and possibly one to learn something from if Arsenal and Bayern Munich are to clash again this season. This could be the Champions League at its best.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Champions League on FotMob this season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.