Arsene Wenger has pledged to attack Bayern Munich this week; the truth is though, that with the mammoth task facing his side, the Arsenal manager has little choice.
Losses in Zagreb and at home to Olympiakos have left the Gunners needing to emerge from a double header with the German Champions with an absolute minimum of three points. As such they must make home advantage count tonight. Bayern have been in imperious form and recorded a ninth win in nine league games at the weekend.
Wenger must overcome his opposite number Pep Guardiola by getting his team and tactics right.
One key decision, regarding his goalkeeper, was taken out of his hands when David Ospina returned injured from international duty. Petr Cech will start in goal, probably to the relief of the Arsenal support.
Regardless of how the manager sets up his team outfield, his troops will also need to win their personal duels.
Here are three key battles in which they must gain the upper hand in order to have any chance against an opponent who have eight goals without reply in the group so far.
Olivier Giroud vs Jerome Boateng
Perhaps an interesting choice given the fact that Giroud has been consigned to the bench more often of late, in favour of Theo Walcott.
Wenger though, should elect to start with Giroud in midweek and here’s why: Boateng, his likely defensive partner David Alaba and in fact the entire Bayern backline are blessed with pace.
This would go some way to nullifying Walcott’s main weapon.
Guardiola has brought the principles of beautiful possession football to Bavaria but one of the reasons his side are able to so confidently recycle the ball in the opposition half is because the speed in their rearguard offers safety.
Using Giroud against Boateng in a battle of the big men would alter the way in which Arsenal attack.
The Frenchman could hold the ball up, allowing the Gunners’ midfield to encroach into Bayern territory.
Furthermore if Giroud makes a physical nuisance of himself for an hour or so, Walcott could then be unleashed when Boateng and Alaba are tiring or on bookings.
Mesut Ozil vs Xabi Alonso
In 2013 Manchester United went out of the Champions League after being controversially reduced to ten men against Real Madrid, who were heavy favourites for the competition at the time.
Before Nani’s red card, United were in control of the tie. Sir Alex Ferguson later revealed that despite the host of Galacticos in the Spanish attack, his game plan hinged on stifling the influence of Xabi Alonso.
There are few players more highly regarded among those who have coached Europe’s top clubs in the last decade than the Spaniard.
At Bayern his influence remains as strong as ever, building attack after attack from his position in front of the defence.
This puts him in direct competition with Mesut Ozil. The former Madrid man will know most of his opponents well and it is imperative he has a good game on Tuesday.
The German playmaker is often criticised for his work rate but he must put in a shift closing down Alonso to stop him dictating the game.
In attack, he must be equally mobile, in order to draw his opponent out of position. Bayern have staggering strength in depth, especially in the midfield area. Ozil must therefore rise to the occasion at the Emirates.
Laurent Koscielny vs Robert Lewandowski
Koscielny and his fellow defenders will be under no illusions as to the scale of the challenge facing them in their next match.
Lewandowski is the most feared striker on the planet at the moment and his recent form has been blistering.
Koscielny has become Arsenal’s top defender over the last couple of seasons but this week he must become the immovable object in the face of an irresistible force.
Concentration will be the absolute name of the game as Bayern are sure to dominate possession for spells and the Frenchman will find his side pinned in their own half.
It is almost certain that Lewandowski will dispatch even the smallest chance afforded to him, so the Arsenal backline will need to faultless.
Thankfully Arjen Robben will miss the game through injury but Bayern possess a multitude of talent that will be of concern to Wenger’s men.
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