Pre-match: (CL - 1/8 finals): FC Arsenal - FC Bayern Munich

Don't fcuking jynx it man.

 

I would be worried about jinxing it, but looking at his body language and form over the past 2-3 months, no way is he going to make a big impact on Wednesday.

He's definitely getting a hattrick now.

 

This guy

 

Just win this and end all doubts...

 

Both legs please. Tired of English fan boy excuses.

Seriously, good luck tomorrow!

 

Fyp ...

 

"We beat them at home, will beat them again. We just have to win the first leg.."

"Even mancity beat them with their B team...,"

If only things were that simple

 

generally speaking, very few of Arsenal fans have illusions of winning this tie.

 

It is possible for Arsenal to win the tie. Unlikely, but possible.

If Rafinha is exploited down the right of our defense that could cause problems. He's been in decent form but he's not the best defensively.

Also we leave our CBs uncovered far too often when we play Lahm in midfield. He's great in possession but Arsenal will get a few chances in behind him at goal as the lone holding midfielder.

 

I expect a good round. Squeezing out a win do wonders for Arsenals EPL run

 

He's been in decent form because of Bayern's style and dominance. Similar to Barcelona's defenders excluding Puyol & Abidal being great defenders. He's still not good enough overall to start for Bayern but a great back-up. He didn't become a great player just now.

I think the important thing is not to concede early in the first 20 minutes. Even if we don't start out as the better team at 0-0, I can see us picking up steam more and more every 5-10 minutes as the game is on a stalemate.

 

Szczesny - Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs - Wilshere, Flamini - Santi Cazorla, Özil, Podolski -Giroud
Trainer: Wenger


Neuer - Rafinha, J. Boateng, Dante, Alaba - Lahm, Thiago - Robben, T. Kroos, M. Götze - T. Müller
Trainer: Guardiola

 

Referee:Rizzoli (Italien)

 

No Mandzukic? Ridiculous.

 

I wonder if arsenal are going to try to go guns blazing and hope to force a goal or 2 early 20 mins... OR stay conservative and make us take the game to them, while they wait for the counters..

 

I agree. I don't see how tactically Mueller makes sense.

 

Overall, Bayern is the much better team. Arsenal is no lightweight. Anything can happen in the knockout stages. So with the prophetic words of Sepp Herberger..."der ball ist rund."

 

I have to admit, I am in the minority here but I like the use of Mueller up top. I think his movement off the ball and pace could cause problems for an Arsenal back line that is, well, it is the punchline to many a joke right about now.

 

I really hope Mandzukic starts, he could make some trouble with his nasty play upfront.

 

What makes my mind easier is this little factoid...

Bayern play better away (reasons unknown) then they do at home..

We haven't lost a SINGLE away game in ALL competitions since October 2012 vs BATE Borisov....

That's pretty ********ing ridiculous

 

That could be because teams are less likely to park the bus in their own stadium as much as they would in the Allianz Arena.

 

Because

 

This guy needs to have a good game for the fixture to live up to expectations. CL refs can really spoil games because they are from other leagues where the rules are interpreted and applied slightly differently from the refs in the teams' home leagues. Hope both teams understand how Italian referees like to do things. Rugby is pain to watch sometimes because a team might not understand a referees style is in the other hemisphere or country etc, so if you don't study the ref, and play according to his style you can lose a game even if you are the better team.

 

I don't think they will be as naive as they were at liverpool. I think they understand that you have to earn the right to control the game. Bayern will make that hard for them though. Because they at home they wont wait for the counter, and because they understand they playing bayern, they wont go guns blazing. I think they will try and keep the ball and build up slowly, not committing too much, like full backs because bayern can counter strongly.