Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
A big week of Cup Football for Arsenal. It’s the might of Bayern Munich Tonight followed by the potential banana skin which could be Sutton United in the F.A. Cup on Monday evening.
The cliche’s about the magic of the cup and giantkillings can be saved for early next week but perhaps Arsene Wenger is going to have to mastermind a giantkilling of sorts as they once again are paired up with old European foes Bayern Munich.
It’s the fourth time in five seasons that these two sides have been paired up in the Champions League, prehaps the glamour of the tie has subsided slightly due to the fact that this game is a near annual occurence but ultimately the end result is the same and that is with The Gunners being knocked out of Europe.
Arsenal come into this game not firing on all cylinders but do at least make the journey to Germany off the back of a league win. It was hardly a vintage performance over Hull on Saturday but it was a very welcome three points after successive defeats.
The pressure was certainly on Arsenal anad Arsene Wenger to deliver a win over Marco Silva’s men after defeats to both Watford and Chelsea previously and that win coupled with Tottenham’s loss sees them once again well in the hunt to finish as the best of the rest in the Premier League.
Alexis Sanchez was on hand (quite literally) to put Arsenal ahead before the break. It was quite apparent that the ball was handled over the line but with the laws of the game being what they are, the goal rightfully stood and Arsenal breathed a sigh of relief as the Chilean international put them in front.
It was a relatively decent performance from Sanchez himself but the same could not once again be said for Mesut Ozil. He has been anonymous as of late but regardless of how he performs, his first team place seems to be locked on and that it starting to draw the ire of not just fans but also his team-mates.
The best way that Ozil can answer his critics is by appearing on the big stage later Tonight, Arsenal can simply not afford another game where he goes missing against world class opposition. Bayern Munich may not be the juggernaut of old but they still once again top the Bundesliga and will come into Tonight’s game full of confidence.
They left it late on Saturday to earn all three points away at Ingolstadt but injury time goals from both Arturo Vidal and Arjen Robben meant that they are now 7 points clear of nearest rivals RB Leipzing, who themselves looked well versed to be making their Champions League debut next season.
They were not particularly convincing on Saturday and will have to play better if they are to deal with the test that Arsenal will give them at The Allianz Arena in a few hours time. That said they will still go into this game as favourites.
If Arsenal can get a positive result or even just a defeat by a solitary goal with an away goal of their own in their back pocket then it will set up the second leg very nice. They will just have to hope that Bayern don’t once again turn the return into a procession after a comfortable first leg win.
I think Bayern will edge this one, Arsenal need to make sure that the tie does not get away from them. I don’t think this one will be done and dusted Tonight, so I reckon it will end up 2-1 to Bayern with all to play for still at The Emirates.
