Arsenal open their UEFA Champions League group stage with a trip to face Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night.
The Gunners travel to Germany on the back of a 1-0 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest last Friday, a result that keeps them second in the table with 18 points from seven games, having recorded six wins and one loss. They are just three points behind leaders Manchester City. Their overall record this season shows 11 goals scored and only five conceded, giving them a goal difference of plus six.
Mikel Arteta’s side are in a confident mood, having won their last three matches across all competitions. That run includes a 3-0 victory over Lille in their final European warm-up game, where goals came from Jurriën Timber, Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka. Bukayo Saka, who is the club's top scorer this season with three goals in seven appearances, scored in that match and is expected to start again in Munich.
Bayern present a formidable challenge, having thrashed RB Leipzig 6-1 in their last Bundesliga outing. Their attack, led by Kane, will test an Arsenal defence that has conceded only five league goals this term.
Arteta named a strong side against Forest, with David Raya in goal behind a back four of White, Konsa, Gabriel Magalhães and Calafiori. The midfield trio of Declan Rice, Bruno Guimarães and Ødegaard is likely to be retained, with Saka, Kai Havertz and Eberechi Eze providing the attacking threat. The winner against Forest was scored by Noni Madueke in the 80th minute, assisted by Declan Rice.
Arsenal’s form has been strong since a 3-0 loss to Brighton on 19 September. They have responded with four wins and one loss from their last five games, a sequence that reads win, win, win, loss, win. Noni Madueke came off the bench to score the winner against Forest. This recent run forms part of a broader pattern of four wins and no draws from their last five outings.
Bayern Munich’s form has been mixed recently, with two draws preceding their big win over Leipzig. They were held 3-3 by Viking and 2-2 by Augsburg earlier this month, suggesting potential vulnerability at the back that Arsenal will aim to exploit.
The match kicks off at 20:00 local time on Wednesday, 21 October. Arsenal then return to Premier League action on Saturday, 24 October, at home to Everton, who are currently eighth in the table.
