Arsenal v Bayern Munich: Champions League line ups and tactics assessed

Since winning their last trophy in 2005, Arsenal have been variously knocked out in cup competition by Bolton, Burnley, Barcelona, Birmingham, Bradford, Blackburn and now Bayern stand in their way in the Champions League. Ahead of the last 16 clash at the Emirates, talkSPORT checks out the key battles and looks at the likely line ups...

Defence
Left back Nacho Monreal is cup tied and Kieran Gibbs is injured, so Thomas Vermaelen will move to the left, with Laurent Koscielny, who has been declared fit, partnering Per Mertesacker in the centre. Vermaelen has lively 23-year-old Thomas Muller or moan-a-minute Arjen Robben to deal with and will need all the help he can get from the midfield in front of him. Jack Wilshere is an excellent tackler and the Gunners will need him to lead by example.
Elsewhere, striker Mario Mandzukic, who has scored 15 league goals this season – six in the last four games – will cause the centre-backs problems. That's what makes him beautiful... (watch the video)

Midfield
All eyes will be on Jack Wilshere and impressive Spanish star Javi Martinez. His positioning is excellent and he will need to be on guard against the England international's lightning quick surges forward. However, sitting alongside Martinez is Bastian Schweinsteiger and the consistent Toni Kroos, who along with Franck Ribery has had a hand in most Bayern goals. Ramsey (assuming he starts), Arteta and Wilshere will need to play out of their skin. Abou Diaby, who played the whole game against Blackburn, may start on the bench, but has the strength to deal with Bayern's dangerous counter attacks, too. Win the battle in the middle and Arsenal stand a chance of taking a lead to Munich.

Attack
“After some games this season I haven’t needed to have a shower!” Bayern 'keeper Manuel Neuer may have been joking about his job being boring due to the quality of his defence, who have yet to concede in 2013, but the back line of Lahm, Alaba, Dante and Van Buyten - Jerome Boateng and Holger Badstuber are injured – is formidable on their day. In this season's Bundesliga, they have let in seven all season, yet have shipped the same amount in the Champions League group stages, giving hope to Arsenal's attack. It's up in the air whether Olivier Giroud will start for Arsenal, having played the full 90 against Blackburn just three days ago, while there is a suspicion that Wenger could opt for a line-up that will add numbers in midfield, allowing the Gunners to control the game.
Gunners danger man Theo Walcott going on the rampage against left-back David Alaba is perhaps the Gunners' best chance of finding a weak-spot. Alaba and fellow full-back Philipp Lahm are known for their attacking prowess and if they push forward Walcott can exploit the space. In addition, it's not just Wilshere whom Bayern's Martinez needs to watch closely. His Spain team-mate Santi Cazorla is also quick-thinking and can be equally as devastating as Kroos when going forward and his passing can unlock the meanest of defences. Lukas Podolski was rested against Blackburn and will be especially keen to score against his former club.

What is being said?
“Despite [the loss to Blackburn], Arsenal have found their rhythm again in the last few weeks; they are very good going forward and are an excellent team. They have wonderful players in their ranks and I'm wary of underestimating them.”
- Bayern manager Jupp Heynckes

“He’s a very difficult opponent. We will of course try to minimise the effect that he has on the game but don’t forget that Arsenal are a very good team and have 10 other very good players.”
- Bastian Schweinsteiger

“I know their players quite well, so maybe in some situations you can see what your opponent is going to do. Sometimes it can help. I spent a lot of games together with a few players in the national team.”
- Per Mertesacker

Line ups:
Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Arteta, Wilshere, Ramsey, Walcott, Podolski, Cazorla

Bayern: Neuer, Lahm, Dante, Van Buyten, Alaba, Martinez, Schweinsteiger, Ribery, Kroos, Muller, Mandzukic

What are your predictions? Share your thoughts, below…