FC Bayern are facing their biggest endurance test so far this Champions League season when they host Arsenal FC tonight (9pm, live on DAZN) – it’s the summit clash of the premier class, the duel between the most convincing teams in Europe so far
The German record champions are ploughing through the Bundesliga, Arsenal are dominating the Premier League and now two footballing worlds are set to collide
Vincent Kompany’s team are an attacking machine and have already scored more than 40 goals in the Bundesliga. Arsenal, meanwhile, have gone a month without conceding a goal and have yet to concede a single goal on the international stage. The numbers that both have put up so far are absolutely impressive
Arsenal v Bayern: A special game
This clash is Bayern’s second away top-flight match in a row in the top flight. They last won 2-1 at reigning champions PSG, even playing a half outnumbered. The first 45 minutes in particular were a message to the opposition. However, PSG are a team that like to build up riskily, that place a lot of value on constructive play with the ball, acting boldly. That means Bayern’s high pressing and man orientation were very effective in this game because they managed to get these elements perfectly on the pitch
However, the game against Arsenal is now a very special one, because the Gunners are also happy to defend in a deeper block in certain phases, and sometimes knock the ball out. Bayern have not yet played against a team with such a wealth of variety and such clarity and class in defence this season
Similarly, Arsenal have not yet played against a team that starts as aggressively as FCB and that can develop such power going forward. Many opponents tend to play a wait-and-see and defensive game against Arsenal, so this will be a very special challenge for both teams
Why Arsenal are so dangerous for Bayern
Because of the way they play, Arsenal could possibly be an even bigger test for Bayern than PSG. In the absence of some top players, the Gunners outclassed local rivals Tottenham 4-1 on Sunday, with Mikel Merino, actually a central midfielder, once again playing nominally up front because three players were missing there. Overall, the team showed that it is now so stable that it almost doesn’t seem to matter if key players are unavailable. The tactical discipline and clear plan give Arsenal a special stability under Mikel Arteta right now
FC Bayern will have to work hard to create space against such a compact defensive line, and the fact that Luis Diaz, one of the best attacking players on the ball, is suspended makes the task even more difficult. Young Lennart Karl is in absolute top form, but he will have to gradually acquire the high intensity in counter-pressing
It is also clear that Arsenal, with players such as Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Eberechi Eze, who was also an issue at Bayern and scored three times at the weekend, have enormous individual class and have nothing to hide in that respect
Another key point: Arsenal are undoubtedly the best team in Europe at resting balls at the moment. Hardly any other team has so many different variations up its sleeve. Sometimes a block is placed against the goalkeeper, sometimes five players run in from the same position, sometimes everything gathers at the far post. Arsenal score goal after goal from a resting ball, everything is rehearsed
FC Bayern have just conceded four goals in two games from set-pieces, so Kompany’s team urgently need to find solutions and defend with a high level of concentration, otherwise they could well suffer their first defeat of the season.