Arsenal vs. Bayern: The facts ahead of Champions League quarter-final first leg

On Tuesday night at 21:00 CEST, FC Bayern compete in the last eight of the Champions League for the 22nd time away to Arsenal – that's a record! And a look at the statistics offers plenty of hope that it can be a victorious quarter-final for the Munich men: in the previous four knockout clashes with the Gunners, FCB have always come out on top. That's the past, though, and the North London club are currently in top form. Read about that and more in the facts on the upcoming away leg.

Bayern's good record at Emirates

Fans of Arsenal haven't had much to shout about previously when Bayern have visited the Emirates Stadium at the business end of the season. The German record champions have played at the Gunners' home ground in the knockout stages three times to date, and have never lost.

In fact, the North London side are something of a favourite opponent for Bayern in Europe's premier club competition. FCB have progressed against them in the knockout rounds more times (four) than against any other team. The defending Bundesliga champions have won their last three games against Arsenal in the competition each by a scoreline of 5-1. Three successive victories by a four-goal margin against the same opponents is something no team had previously achieved in the Champions League. This is another statistic that offers encouragement for Tuesday night's encounter.

London a happy hunting ground

Bayern can also take heart from their recent record against English teams. The Reds have lost just one of their last six away games in the so-called motherland of football (W4 D1) and have triumphed on their last three visits to London (at Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea) by an aggregate score of 15-3.

Kane with impressive record against Arsenal

One man who particularly likes scoring against Arsenal is Bayern striker Harry Kane. The Bundesliga's leading marksman, who played in the Arsenal academy as an eight-year-old, is the record goalscorer in the North London derby. In 19 competitive meetings with the Gunners for his former club Tottenham, the England captain netted a total of 14 goals. Only against Leicester (20) and Everton (16) has the 30-year-old found the net more often in his professional career. 

Kane, together with Diogo Jota and Jamie Vardy, has also scored the most away goals by an opposition player at the Emirates with five. On current form, there's every chance he'll add to that tally: he's joint top of the goalscoring chart in this season's Champions League with six goals, alongside Antoine Griezmann, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé. With three assists as well, the Bayern striker has been directly involved in more goals (nine) than anyone else in the current campaign.

Records beckon for Müller and Neuer

Meanwhile, Thomas Müller and Manuel Neuer could make history in the English capital on Tuesday. Müller is set to make his 150th Champions League appearance, becoming only the third player to reach this figure for one club after Iker Casillas (150 for Real Madrid) and Xavi (151 for Barcelona). The attacker could also feature in his 24th UCL quarter-final against Arsenal – that's never been done before!

If captain Neuer recovers from his muscle strain in time to play at the Emirates, he could also set a new record. If he and Bayern keep a clean sheet, the Germany goalkeeper would be the first shot-stopper to register 58 shutouts in the Champions League and move ahead of previous record holder Gianluigi Buffon (57).

Arsenal formidable at home

That said, the Gunners have an impeccable record on home soil in the Champions League this season. Mikel Arteta's men have won all four of their home games without conceding a single goal: 4-0 against PSV Eindhoven, 2-0 against Sevilla, 6-0 against Lens and 1-0 after normal time against Porto. The North Londoners have never put together such a run, so Bayern better be warned.

A closer look at our opponents: