Arsenal will be looking to continue their push for a first Champions League trophy when they take on Bayern Munich in the first leg of their quarter-final clash.
Goals from Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, and Leandro Trossard secured a 3-0 win for Arsenal against Brighton in their last outing, and following Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United, the Gunners ended the week top of the Premier League once again.
Next up for Arsenal in a huge Champions League clash against Bayern Munich, with Mikel Arteta looking to lead the Gunners to their first Champions League semi-final since 2009.
Recent history between Arsenal and Bayern Munich has seen the German side batter the Gunners, with the last three meetings all ending 5-1 to Bayern.
But, the German side aren’t in the best of form having lost their last two games, with Thomas Tuchel’s team set to miss out on a 12th consecutive Bundesliga title.
So, can Arsenal take an advantage into the second leg in Germany? Let’s take a look.
Arsenal vs Bayern Munich simulated to get a score prediction
To complete this simulation, we used EA FC 24 and updated the squads with the latest injuries and suspensions.
We predict that Arsenal could set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with their line-up as follows:Â Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.Â
We predict that Porto could line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with their starting XI as follows:Â Ulreich; Kimmich, Upamecano, Min-Jae, Davies; Goretzka, Laimer; Gnabry, Muller, Musiala; Kane.
Arsenal were in full control from the first whistle at the Emirates, and they should’ve been one ahead when Dayot Upamecano gifted the ball to Havertz, but the German failed to capitalise on the error as he directed his shot wide of the post. Arsenal kept pushing for the opener, and just before half time, the Gunners went ahead.
Martin Odegaard picked up the ball on the halfway line before surging towards goal, and a one-two with Saka saw the Norwegian burst through the Bayern midfield and into the box. Under no pressure, Odegaard fired towards goal, and his effort flew past the ‘keeper to make it 1-0.
As the second half restarted, Bayern enjoyed a flurry of chances as they searched for an equaliser. Jamal Musiala tested David Raya three times in quick succession, and it wasn’t long before the visitors drew level.
The visitors worked the ball forward with speed as they looked to hit Arsenal on the break, and a smart pass from Thomas Muller picked out the overlapping run of Joshua Kimmich down the right. With time, the German crossed into the box, and Leon Goretzka met the ball with a towering header to make it 1-1.
Arsenal had a great chance to retake the lead in the 88th minute when Gabriel Martinelli entered the box after a mazy run down the left, but a good save denied the Brazilian who tried to pick out the far corner with a curling effort.
Goretzka was sent off in the final few minutes after picking up a second yellow card, but the Gunners didn’t have enough time to take advantage as the game ended all square.
EA FC 24 predicted final score: Arsenal 1-1 Bayern Munich
