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Bayern Munich vs Arsenal as it happened: Carlo Ancelotti's side smash five past sorry Gunners
Re-live updates from the Champions League last-16 first leg at the Allianz Arena
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal are looking to end their run of six straight Champions League last-16 exits but face an almighty task once again as they take on Bayern Munich, having been knocked out of the competition by the German heavyweights twice in the last five seasons. Follow the latest here.
- Bayern Munich vs Arsenal kicks off at 19:45 GMT
- Arsenal without Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey
- Arsene Wenger confirms David Ospina will start in place of Petr Cech
- Bayern missing Jerome Boateng and Franck Ribery but Xabi Alonso fit
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Preview...
Since winning the Champions League in 2013 Bayern Munich have reached three semi-finals in a row. With three-time winner at the forefront, Carlo Ancelotti, they will be confident of going one better this season but will have to overcome Arsenal first.
Having met Bayern in the last-16 twice over the last five seasons, Arsenal are yet to lose in Munich when it comes to the knockout stage, winning 2-0 in 2012/13 and drawing 1-1 a year later. The German side this time around will be eager to set the record straight and get off to an encouraging start in this two-legged affair.
However, the pair did meet in last season's group stage, where Bayern inflicted a heavy 5-1 defeat on Arsenal in Bavaria.
With the pressure mounting, an away trip to Bayern Munich for the fourth consecutive season is not ideal for Arsene Wenger. But a win of this magnitude would certainly offer some kind of reprieval for Arsenal’s long-serving boss.
What is sure to be a hotly-contested affair could also be Arsenal’s season-defining fixture. With the Premier League seeming to be out of their grasps, a win against Munich on Wednesday evening may just salvage their season and Wenger’s job.
What time does it start?
Bayern Munich vs Arsenal kicks off at 19:45pm (GMT)
Where can I watch it?
The game will be broadcasted live on BT Sport 2/BT Sport 2 HD.
It’s a big game for…
Alexis Sanchez: The 28-year-old has featured 22 times this season for Arsenal and has a return of 16 goals and nine assists. He has been Arsenal’s go to man this season and no doubt come Wednesday evening they’ll be reliant on the Chilean forward to make something happen again. If Arsenal are to save their season they need some kind of result and Sanchez’s role in that will be pivotal.
Best stat…
If Arsenal are to progress through to the quarter-final they’ll have to overcome a European hoodoo as the Gunners have never beaten the German giants over two legs in the knockout stages of Europe's leading competition.
Remember when…
Bayern Munich beat Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates stadium in 2013.
Player to watch…
Robert Lewandowski: Bayern’s Polish striker is yet again having another exceptional season with 21 goals in 30 games. Five of those 21 goals have come in the Champions League this season and the 28-year-old will be looking to add to his goal tally on Wednesday evening. Arsenal’s defence will need to be at their best if they’re to keep Lewandowski quiet and out of the headlines.
Past three-meetings…
Bayern Munich 5 Arsenal 1, Champions League, November 2015
Arsenal 2 Bayern Munich 0, Champions League, October 2015
Bayern Munich 1 Arsenal 1, Champions League, March 2014
Form guide…
Bayern Munich: WWWWDW
Arsenal: WWWLLW
Odds…
Bayern Munich to win: 12/25
Arsenal to win: 6/1
Draw: 7/2
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)
GOAL! Bayern 2 Arsenal 1 (Lewandowski)
We said in the first-half that Arsenal could ill afford to keep giving Robert Lewandowski chances in the box and he proves us right with a fantastic header to the bottom corner.
Robben and Lahm link up once again down the right, Lahm centres and Lewandowski seems to hang in the air for an eternity before heading it back in the direction it came from. Ospina no chance once again.
GOAL! Bayern 3 Arsenal 1 (Thiago)
Two in two minutes for the hosts and Arsenal are in danger of being blown away here. Xabi Alonso caresses one forward to Lewandowski who flicks the ball between his legs into Thiago Alcantara's path. The Spaniard goes through one on one with Ospina and makes no mistake, passing it into the bottom left corner. Delicious.
58 minutes: chance for Bayern!
Arsenal are on the ropes here as Bayern go forward again. Lewandowski's header comes to nothing.
Meanwhile at the Bernabeu...
GOAL! Real Madrid 3 Napoli 1 (Casemiro)
61 minutes: crossbar!
Ospina is in no-man's land and Lewandowski's deflected shot hits the bar. Robben with a follow up shot and it appears to hit Gibbs on the hand. Fortunately for Arsenal, the referee points to the corner flag.
GOAL! Bayern 4 Arsenal 1 (Thiago)
Ospina makes a stunning save but the ball falls to Thiago on the edge of the box from the resulting corner. The Spaniard hits it goalwards, it deflects off an Arsenal player and into the net. Arsenal are being blown away here.
71 minutes: It's settled down slightly here...
...but Bayern are still dominating. Arsenal really need to stop the hosts scoring again if they have any chance of making it through.
76 minutes: Giroud on for Coquelin
Meanwhile, Bayern have a corner.
82 minutes: save from Ospina!
Vidal cuts in on his left foot and it looks destined for the bottom corner, but Ospina gets his finger tips to it. The Colombian has looked shaky at times tonight but has made three of four top draw saves.
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