Champions League is Arsenal's only chance of bringing a trophy to Emirates Stadium this season. However, the opponent is no other than mighty Bayern Munich.

 
Champions League 1/8 finals
Emirates Stadium
19-02-2013 @ 19.45 UK

How are the two teams form?

After Saturday's surprising FA Cup exit, Arsenal only have the Champions League title to fight for. The latest six Arsenal matches has ended in 3 wins, 1 draw and the lost match against Blackburn Saturday. The Gunners are currently positioned fifth in the Premier League while they ended second after Schalke in their Champions League group.

Bayern Munich Friday won 3-0 against Wolfsburg and is keeping their streak of 13 matches without loosing. The Germans are currently first in the German 1. Bundesliga and ended first in their Champions League group, in front of Valencia.

The latest four meetings between the two teams have ended in two victories for Bayern Munich, a draw and a single win for Arsenal.

What is the probable starting XI?


Arsenal is without a decent left back as Kieran Gibbs is out with an injury, and Santos has joined Brazilian side Gremio on a loan. Furthermore, Nacho Monreal is not registered for the Champions League.

Munich's Holger Badstuber, Javi Martinez and Claudio Pizarro are all injured and not in play for the match against Arsenal.

Szczesny

Sagna - Mertesacker - Vermaelen - Jenkinson

Arteta - Cazorla
Walcott - Wilshere - Podolski
Giroud
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Gomez

Ribery - Müller - Robben

Schweinsteiger - Alaba

Lahm - Dante - Van Buyten - Boateng

Neuer

What to expect from this match?

Arsenal's form is shocking at the moment, and they won't have many chances against Munich is they don't step up to the challenge. Overall Munich seems as the best team with quality players on almost all positions. However, Arsenal might be able to exploit Munich defends as the normal starter Badstuber is missing.

Arsenal will probably aim to pull of a goalless draw and hope for a better change in Munich. I predict that we will see a defensive Arsenal, who will be playing on contra strikes. Meanwhile, Munich will probably be the most dominant team on the pitch and put Arsenal under a major pressure. The question is if Arsenal can hold them back.

What are the odds?

Bayern Munich is by far the most popular bet according to oddschecker.com. Both BetVictor and Bluesquare gives a 11/10 odds on Munich, while a draw gives the odds of 45/17 by Pinnacle. The same bookmaker gives a 54/19 back on an Arsenal victory. Betting on the result, a 3-1 victory to Bayern Munich gives back 20.