A commanding lead in the Bundesliga and top spot in the Champions League table - FC Bayern's interim results at the end of November make for formidable reading. After Vincent Kompany's team beat previous leaders Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 in the top-of-the-table clash in Paris on the last Champions League matchday, it's onto another thrilling encounter. The Munich side are on the road again - but this time Michael Olise & Co. will be looking down on everyone from the top of the table when they take on second-placed Arsenal in London on Wednesday evening (21.00 CET).
"Arsenal and PSG are two different teams. I think Arsenal are a bit stronger defensively. They make it difficult for their opponents. But we have to analyse them and find out where we can hurt them," said Harry Kane, who has already scored five goals in Europe and particularly enjoys scoring against Arsenal and in their stadium. Kane's wish is our command - let's take a closer look at the English league leaders in our opposition profile.
Unbeaten run against the Gunners
A look at the record of the two European heavyweights speaks in favour of Bayern, who have usually come off better in their most recent clashes with Arsenal. The Reds have won four of the last five meetings (one draw) - most recently in the 2023/24 quarter-finals, when FCB progressed to the next round after a 2-2 draw in London thanks to a header from Joshua Kimmich and a 1-0 home win. Bayern suffered the last of only three defeats against the Gunners in 14 matches (eight wins, three draws) in the 2015/16 group stage (2-0 away).
Arteta taking the club forward
If you look at the North Londoners' league positions over the past 20 years, what is striking is that, with the exception of the years 2016 to 2021, the proud club has always managed a top-four finish in the prestigious Premier League since 2006. However, despite finishing as runners-up four times during this period, they never managed to win the title. The fans of the verenable old club, founded in 1886, have been clamouring for the league trophy since 2004. Since then, Arsenal have won the prestigious FA Cup five times.
When former Gunner Mikel Arteta left his position as assistant coach at Manchester City with Pep Guardiola shortly before Christmas 2019 to take over the helm on the Thames, Arsenal found themselves in difficult sporting times. Tactical expert Arteta, who was already a strategic midfielder as a player and learned his trade in the Barcelona youth setup, had to find his feet in his early days - at the end of his first season and a half, the Spaniard twice finished in a sobering eighth place.
However, the development of the young team centred around England international Bukayo Saka then really took off. The Gunners finished fifth in 2022, then went head-to-head with Manchester City and Liverpool - ultimately finishing second three times in the following years.
Arsenal dominating the Premier League
The big question at the moment is: will Arsenal become English champions again this season? After Sunday's important 4-1 home win in the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur - Eberechi Eze was the man of the match with a hat-trick - Arteta's side are in first place, six points clear of club World Cup winners Chelsea. Perennial rivals Manchester City are seven points behind the Gunners, while last year's champions Liverpool are already 11 points adrift.
The English side are just as dominant in the Champions League - a competition Arsenal have never won. In the current league phase, the Londoners have won four out of four games and scored 11:0 goals: In addition to the two away victories in Bilbao (2-0) and Prague (3-0), Olympiakos (2-0) and Atlético Madrid (4-0) didn't stand a chance at the Emirates. The centrepiece of the Arsenal team is the defensive unit, which Munich will have to crack. Arsenal have not only won all of their last 15 home games in the group and league phase, but have also not conceded a single goal in the last 12.
Why Arsenal's defence is so strong
"We know Arsenal are a very good football team who play incredibly active football, have quick and clever players, are good defensively and can score goals," said FCB board member for sport Max Eberl. "It's not first against second for nothing." At the heart of the Arsenal defence are the two centre-backs Gabriel and William Saliba, who are complemented by various full-backs in a back four. The names Jurrien Timber, Piero Hincapié, Riccardo Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera, Ben White and Myles Lewis-Skelly speak to a defensive surplus.
However, against Bayern, the Brazilian Gabriel will be sidelined with a thigh injury sustained with the national team. "That's a bitter blow, of course, because he's our defensive leader. But the good thing is that we have very good alternatives," said Arteta recently. Germany international Kai Havertz, Martin Ödegaard and Viktor Gyökeres are also likely to miss the clash with FCB through injury. However, Swedish star striker Gyökeres (muscle problem) and Norwegian midfield boss Ödegaard (knee) could still be fit in time for the top match. "I can't wait to get back - we're on the right track and things are looking really good," said Ödegaard in recent days.
The Londoners spent millions on strengthening their squad in the summer - which has borne fruit so far. Among others, Martín Zubimendi joined from Real Sociedad, Eze from Crystal Palace, Gyökeres from Sporting Lisbon and Noni Madueke from Chelsea. A new face also made his maiden appearance on the European stage in the CL away win in Prague: 15-year-old Max Dowman became the youngest player in Champions League history after coming off the bench. Arsenal legend Arsène Wenger also reckons his former club have a good chance this season: "I think they're in a really good position this year to overcome any problems."
Against FC Bayern, Arsenal will probably line up in a 4-3-2-1 or 4-3-3. In front of the Spaniard David Raya in goal, Saliba could defend with Mosquera or Hincapié, with Calafiori on the left and Timber on the right at full-back. The midfield could consist of the sure-footed Zubimendi, England international Declan Rice and all-rounder Eze, while the attacking trio could consist of Saka, Mikel Merino and counter-attacker Gabriel Martinelli. The Belgian Leandro Trossard, who has been in good form, could also start on the left of the attack in place of Martinelli, who has been suffering with a knock of late. Merino, who with Spain knocked the German national team out of the 2024 European Championship at home, is a flexible midfielder who will line up in the centre of attack in Gyökeres' absence.
How Arsenal's Arteta system works
FC Bayern face a big hurdle on Wednesday, as Arsenal have a varied attacking game and a resolute defensive block. Saliba & Co. are chasing the record for fewest goals conceded in this Premier League season - currently held by Chelsea under José Mourinho in the 2004/05 campaign. The Blues conceded 15 goals at the time, while the Gunners are currently on six after 12 games. What is striking is that the Londoners are defending even deeper this season and FC Bayern will probably have more possession in the match. Arteta is demanding £5,000 from any player who allows an opponent to pass from the flanks into the centre in these deep-lying situations. These measures are having an effect, with Arsenal only allowing their opponents an Expected Goals value of 0.48 in the Champions League so far.
As always, however, there are also opponents of this robust style of play. In the English tabloids, there's talk of the ‘Dark Arts’. This isn't a reference to England's most famous wizarding apprentice, Harry Potter, but a reference to Arteta's name and destructive 1-0 victories without moments of magic.
Arsenal's attacking set-pieces, meanwhile, are completely devoid of tricks. Arteta was one of the first to react to the tactical impasse created by the perfection of possession and transition play under Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp and brought Nicolas Jover, a proven set-piece specialist, into his coaching team. This focus has been a great success: around two thirds of Arsenal's goals have come from set pieces, especially corners, which has contributed significantly to their current success and lead in the domestic table. "They're a terrific Premier League team; they're terrific from corners. And we'll have to work on that because we conceded two goals against Freiburg from corners," said Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano.
The overriding aim is for Arsenal to beat a team of the highest calibre for the first time this season after the draw in the league against Manchester City and the defeat to Liverpool. European football fans can therefore look forward to a treat. Or to put it in the words of FC Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen: "Arsenal know we're in good form at the moment. We'll approach the game with respect. Arsenal are the Premier League leaders and, with us, unbeaten in the Champions League for good reason. It will certainly be a real challenge."
Find out in our match facts why FCB once again have a good hand going into Wednesday's top-of-the-table clash:
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