Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich: UEFA Champions League LIVE blog and team news

Having continued their perfect start to the league phase against reigning European champions Paris St-Germain last time out, Bayern Munich will face another stern test of their UEFA Champions League credentials when they travel to compatriots Arsenal on Wednesday (kick-off: 9:00 p.m. CET).

Having swept aside Chelsea, Pafos, Club Brugge and PSG in the Champions League, Bayern will be confident of meting out the same treatment to an Arsenal side who have beaten them just three times in 14 attempts.

Indeed, Bayern have not lost to the Gunners since the 2015/16 group stage, recording three 5-1 victories against the north London side in the years since. They also got the better of Arsenal in the quarter-finals last season, triumphing 3-2 on aggregate.

Watch: The cornerstones of Bayern’s success

Bayern came back from 2-0 down to beat Freiburg 6-2 in the Bundesliga at the weekend, extending their unbeaten start until 2025/26 to 18 competitive matches. Vincent Kompany’s side have only dropped points once in this series: a 2-2 draw against Union Berlin before the November international break.

Kompany rested midfielder Joshua Kimmich against Freiburg, while full-back Konrad Laimer started the match on the bench. Both are expected to return to the starting line-up in London, but striker Serge Gnabry is doubtful after missing the weekend with a knee problem.

The Bundesliga leader is also without Luis Díaz, suspended for three matches following his red card against PSG. Michael Olise started in a central role on Saturday, recording two goals and three assists. Teenager Lennart Karl also contributed to a few goals, before getting injured.

Nicolas Jackson, on loan at Chelsea, could arrive as a result, with Harry Kane playing a deeper role, as he has already done on several occasions this season. The England striker will look to continue his run of phenomenal goals against Arsenal, having found the net 15 times against them in all competitions. He also has 24 goals to show for his first 18 appearances of the club’s current campaign.

After playing at left-back and midfield against Freiburg, versatile German U21 international Tom Bischof could complete the attacking trio, but the game comes too soon for left-back Alphonso Davies and playmaker Jamal Musiala – although both are training again after lengthy injuries.

Like Bayern, Mikel Arteta’s side are flying high in all competitions this season. At the top of the Premier League with four points ahead of its closest pursuer, Manchester City, Arsenal is one of only three teams – with Bayern and Inter Milan – to still have a 100% record in the Champions League phase.

Arteta, however, arguably has more pressing personnel issues to resolve. Defender Gabriel is expected to be out for several weeks after being injured on international duty, while former Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz and Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus also remain in the treatment room.

It also remains to be seen whether Viktor Gyökeres, Noni Madueke, Martin Ødegaard or Gabriel Martinelli will play a role in Wednesday’s clash.

Former Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz will miss Wednesday’s match due to injury. -IMAGO/Jed Leicester/Shutterstock

Match statistics

• Bayern have lost only two of their last 12 UEFA competition matches against an English club (W8 D2).
• The Bavarians have only lost two of their last 15 Champions League matches (11 wins, 2 draws).
• In the group/league stage, Bayern have suffered only three defeats in their last 52 meetings (45 wins, 4 draws).
• Only one of Bayern’s last 73 matches in UEFA competition has ended in a goalless draw.
• Kane has five Champions League goals this season, alongside Erling Haaland (Man City) and Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid. Only Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen has more after four league stage matches (six).
• Arsenal have won just two of their last nine UEFA competition matches against German sides (D1 L6).

Probable compositions

Arsenal: Raya – Wood, Saliba, Mosquera, Calafiori – Zubimendi, Rice – Saka (c), Eze, Trossard – Merino
Out: Gabriel (thigh), Havertz (knee), Jesus (knee)
Doubtful: Gyökeres (muscle), Martinelli (muscle), Ødegaard (knee), Madueke (knee)
Coach: Mikel Arteta

Bayern: Neuer (c) – Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Stanišić – Kimmich, Pavlović – Olise, Kane, Bischof – Jackson
Out: Davies (fitness), Díaz (suspended), Musiala (fitness)
Doubtful: Gnabry (knee), Karl (hip)
Coach: Vincent Kompany

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