Bayern Munich 0-0 Arsenal (agg 2-2) – Champions League quarter-final: Live score, team news and updates as Arteta makes three changes

That’s much better from Arsenal.

It seems Takehiro Tomiyasu’s new contact lense is doing wonders as he dances his way around the Bayern defense before setting up Gabriel Martinelli.

Martinelli can’t get the ball out of his feet though, and Bayern manage to hook it clear.

This already feels like a completely different game, I wonder what Thomas Tuchel said to his side at half-time.

They’re pinning Arsenal back and trying to force chances, the Gunners need to hold strong during this period.

There is now a break in play as Takehiro Tomiyasu is having problems with his contact lenses…

That’s the best chance of the match so far.

Leon Goretzka leaps like a salmon to meet a wonderful cross, and his header comes back off the post.

As it comes out Raphael Guerreiro tries to send it towards goal and it’s deflected onto the woodwork.

Bayern have come firing out of the blocks!

Will both sides let themselves free and go for it this half? We will find out over the next 45 minutes!

Sami Mokbel, Mail Sport, at the Allianz Arena:

Twenty four hours after one of the most chaotic nights in Champions League history, this game is more comparable with a game of chess.
One wrong move and the consequences are fatal. Not any less enthralling, though. Who’ll be first to make a wrong move?

The Bayern fans were very loud before kick-off and put on an incredible pyro show. It’s really some spectacle.

Nerves did seem to seep in from the fans throughout the game though, so much so that Jamal Musiala called for them to get louder.

Either way, this is still spectacular.

Arsenal have done well to keep Harry Kane quiet.

Despite a couple of early chances, Kane has struggled to get involved in the action, Arsenal are doing a good job on him.

It will be interesting to see how he changes his game in the second half to free himself up.

Defenses certainly came out on top in that first-half.

We all know how good Arsenal usually are at the back, and bar a couple of lapses in concentration from Takehiro Tomiyasu, they haven’t given much away.

It seems like Bayern’s best bet is to catch the Gunners on the counter-attack like they did at the Emirates.

The game will start to open up as time goes on.

I was right, nothing happened.

It may have not been riddled with chances, but that was a fascinating battle in the first half.

It’s clear both sides are scared of giving away too many opportunities, both sides have been fairly solid.

The best chance of the half perhaps came to Kai Havertz, but Manuel Neuer did well to deny him.

All that half does is increase the tension inside the Allianz Arena.

Is there one final chance for a goal before the break.

I feel like I did during the |Manchester City and Arsenal clash – disappointed.

It’s a cagey affair out there, like a game of chess, neither side wants to give anything away.

I’m sure the chances will come in the second half.

It’s been one of those games.

Ben White for some reason tries his luck from miles out when he has options around him and time on his side, it goes way over the bar.

It’s not a Champions League classic, that’s for sure.

Martin Odegaard looks like he is struggling a little bit.

The Arsenal captain does well to press and win back the ball with Declan Rice but seems to have hurt his knee.

He was a doubt before the game, should they have risked him?

It would be a huge blow if he were to come off.

Oooooh, that would have been controversial.

Bukayo Saka is down holding his face after getting hit by the ball, so Arsenal decide to regroup and chat with Mikel Arteta.

Bayern Munich cheekily try to restart play and catch them out, but the referee is having none of it.

The Bayern fans are not happy, they think play should have continued.

Jamal Musiala is trying to rile up the crowd.

To be fair to him, the crowd has gone rather quiet since Arsenal started troubling them.

They need to be more up for this, like they were earlier!

Arsenal are knocking at the door.

Manuel Neuer is called into action again after Martin Odegaard finds Gabriel Martinelli in the area.

The winger hits it on the volley first time but it’s straight down the throat of Neuer.

If it was in the corner, that’s 1-0.

That was a strange, but good save from Manuel Neuer.

Martin Odegaard picks up the ball and unleashes a drive outside the area, and it takes a deflection before Neuer scrambles to keep it out.

It was like he dived early and wasn’t expecting the deflection.

Moments later, he rushes out to deny Kai Havertz as he bore down on goal. This is better from the Gunners.

John, London: Only a matter of time before Bayern open the floodgates. Arsenal not closing down and looking very scared.

Bayern have just gone up a gear.

Joshua Kimmich has a go from distance forcing David Raya into another save, and Arsenal hook it clear.

The crowd has just reacted to the last few minutes, the decibel level has gone up a notch.

That’s much better from the hosts.

Bayern explode into life as Raphael Guerreiro drives them forward before sliding in Noussair Mazraoui.

Mazraoui tries to fire it across David Raya from a narrow angle and the Arsenal keeper manages to turn it behind.

That was nearly an excellent solo goal by Gabriel Martinelli.

The Arsenal winger tries to dance his way through the Bayern defence inside the area but is foiled at the final hurdle.

The Brazilian showed excellent feet there to beat a number of the Bayern backline.

The game may not be at full flow yet, but the Bayern fans are enjoying themselves.

I have a feeling this is what created the fog before the game…just a little hunch.

It’s clear as day out there now.

Takehiro Tomiyasu is all over the place and Sane ghosts in behind him to take the ball down from deep, but his low cross is put behind.

Nothing comes from the corner but that was a warning for Arsenal.

Arsenal have started to get a grip on this game.

They may not be creating the chances just yet, but they are having the lion’s share of the possession.

Bayern seem happy to try and hit them on the counter-attack.

Arsenal have support from the fans and their families tonight.

Some of the team’s partners are in Munich tonight to support the side.

The Gunners haven’t impressed too much so far though.

Arsenal conjure up their first effort on goal.

Gabriel Martinelli picks up the ball and decides to have a crack from outside the are, he bends his effort wide.

This game hasn’t quite got going yet.

You can already tell Harry Kane is desperate to find the back of the net.

The England captain decides to have a go from distance, but he can’t keep it on target.

How many chances is he going to rack up tonight?

A first sight of goal for Harry Kane.

Leroy Sane, just as he did last week, causes problems on the right-hand side and digs out a cross into the middle.

Kane meets it and tries to wrap his leg around the ball to volley it home, but he scuffs it wide.

Maybe I undersold it by saying light fog…

It is looking very cloudy out there on that pitch, I wonder if that will make an impact?

The first few minutes have been rather cagey, with both teams just trying to get a feel for the occasion.

The Allianz Arena is covered in a blanket of light fog and Bayern Munich get us underway.

I’m going to say it again, it’s very loud in there, which side will be cheering the most at the end of the night?

Just listen to that atmosphere, it’s electric inside the Allianz Arena.

As the players line up in the tunnel you can hear the Arsenal fans chanting in their corner, they are up for it tonight.

Now it’s time for the Champions League music, such a beautiful song, and it’s way better than the Premier League anthem.

Feeling nervous now, Arsenal fans?

Anonymous: I’m a Spurs fan but will be backing Arsenal tonight.

I did not expect to see this comment tonight…

Right, we’re just 10 minutes away from kick-off.

You know what time it is now, it’s time to hear from all of you, what are your predictions?

I’m going to go with a 2-1 win for Arsenal, I feel they will bounce back with a bang!

Thomas Tuchel, Bayern boss, speaking to TNT Sports:

The approach is more serious, we play with more hunger, we play with more discipline [in the CL]. We are very self-critical but this is the obvious thing, we have very good results and team efforts throughout the competition.

We lost a lot of speed compared to last week losing Gnabry, Davies, and Coman, three of our fastest players who can always hurt the defence. This is a big loss but we have new guys and we try to make it up as a team.

We hope that this brings some extra points in our favour. Our guys played a lot of quarter-finals. But Arsenal have gained a position that they haven’t done for so many years. It’s good to have experience in our squad and winners in our squad who have done it already.

Is everybody as excited as I am?

Kick-off is inching closer by the minute and both sides are finishing off their final preparations.

I wish I could just get a remote control and fast-forward to the start of the game, but sadly that’s not possible.

Sami Mokbel, Mail Sport, at the Allianz Arena:

Big night. Big clubs. Big players. It’s gearing up to be a huge night here in Munich. Tomiyasu and Martinelli starting are the two big calls here from Mikel Arteta. Time will tell if they are the right ones.

Owen Hargreaves, 2008 Champions League winner, on TNT Sports:

The Villa game, they’ve got to forget it, it’s gone. Unai Emery showed his experience. They need to forget the Bayern game and the Villa game – this is a big opportunity.

I thought they showed a tiny bit of inexperience but that’s only because they’re one of the younger sides in the Premier League and in the Champions League. They just need to manage the game a tiny bit better and it’s there for them to win. This Bayern will give them a huge chance today – they just need to take it.

He may be leaving Bayern at the end of the season, but Thomas Tuchel still has the chance to do something not many managers have.

If Bayern win tonight, Tuchel will have guided three teams to a Champions League semi-final, having previously done so with both Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.

José Mourinho with four, is the only manager to do it with more than three different sides in the competition.

Never mind struggling at the Allianz Arena, Arsenal struggle at all away grounds when it comes to a Champions League quarter-final.

The Gunners have never won an away match from the Champions League quarter-final stage onwards losing four of their eight matches and drawing all the others.

The statistics may not be in favour of them tonight, but this is a different Arsenal side to those of the past.

Martin Keown, former Arsenal defender, speaking on TNT Sports:

Arsenal will be giving it everything they can tonight, I’m really confident actually. I think Arsenal are really in the right mood, this is the moment for them. They are nice and secure at the back, they have just got to go and do it haven’t they.

Harry Kane would love nothing more than to knock Arsenal out tonight.

Not just because of his ties to Tottenham, but because he will be desperate to secure his first career trophy.

Bayern will be relying on him to deliver the goods once again tonight and he looks determined to provide them.

No smiles as he arrives at the Allianz Arena.

Ally McCoist, former Ranger striker, speaking on TNT Sports:

The important thing is how they [Arsenal] respond to the defeat, I expect them to come here and perform well.

It might just suit Arsenal being on the back foot in this one.

It’s a huge night for Takehiro Tomiyasu.

The Arsenal full-back doesn’t get too many starts, and he may have none bigger in his Arsenal career than tonight.

At left-back, he will be up against the lightning Leroy Sane who caused a bucket full of problems in the first leg.

Will he be able to handle him?

We have our answer to the earlier question, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka are both fit to start.

Mikel Arteta has made just one change from the first leg with Takehiro Tomiyasu coming in at left-back.

That is an extremely strong Arsenal side, happy Gunners fans?

Good news for Bayern Munich fans, but bad for Arsenal, Leroy Sane is fit to start.

Thomas Tuchel has made two enforced changes from the first-leg draw at the Emirates.

Raphael Guerreiro and Noussair Mazraoui come into the side for Alphonso Davies and Serge Gnabry.

It’s a huge night for the British sides in Europe.

Arsenal are not the only Brits in action tonight, holders Manchester City are facing off against 14-time winners Real Madrid.

It’s another cracker of a tie after the two sides served up a tasty 3-3 in the first leg.

If you fancy following along with that one, click below:

We saw it yesterday in Dortmund and it’s the same today in Munich, the fans are in the ground early.

I can just imagine how they are all feeling right now, nervous but excited. They” feel it in the pit of their stomach.

The match is fast approaching.

Here we go then, this is when the excitement really starts to build.

The Gunners have arrived for one of their biggest fixtures in a very long time.

One thing you can say is that they look focused, I guess they have to be, they can’t make any mistakes this evening.

Which 11 players will be tasked with doing the job from the start?

My last post leads perfectly into this one.

It has been reported that Thomas Tuchel may change it up quite dramatically tonight with his starting 11 selection.

Windy conditions at Bayern’s Sabener Strasse complex meant that people could see into the side’s preparations for the match.

It seems that what they saw surprised them…

Speaking of injuries, Bayer Munich have some huge ones.

Thomas Tuchel’s men will have to cope without Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman who are sidelined with problems.

Alphonso Davies will also be unavailable tonight as he is suspended after he picked up a booking in the first leg, his third of the competition.

The pressure is really going to be on Harry Kane to deliver the goods.

Arsenal fans are holding their breath regarding the fitness of Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.

After both sustaining knocks in the loss to Aston Villa at the weekend, Mikel Arteta has said they are being ‘assessed’.

The pair were both seen in training, so it looks like they are likely to be involved in one way or another. It would be a huge blow if they weren’t.

The question will be answered very soon…

Tonight has the potential to be a defining night in Mikel Arteta’s reign as Arsenal manager.

It feels like a real crunch moment for the team and their legacy as they look to make that step from challengers to true contenders.

While the Gunners have had their fair share of huge games over the last two years in their desire for Premier League supremacy, it feels like none of them have mattered quite as much as tonight.

What do all of you think, is this Mikel Arteta’s biggest match in charge of Arsenal? Personally, I think so.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Bayern Munich seems to have not always been a nightmare place to go for Arsenal.

The one time they have beaten Bayern in their last six trips there was back in 2013, and guess who was captain.

That’s right, Mikel Arteta.

He won’t be able to influence matters on the pitch with his feet, but he’ll be hoping his tactics do the trick!

This headline hits the nail on the head.

Arsenal have a huge night in store, arguably their biggest under Mikel Arteta.

Sami Mokbel, Mail Sport, is at the Allianz Arena tonight to witness the big clash, and he has shared his thoughts on the tie before the match.

To read the article, click below:

Arsenal fans are not used to being in these situations, win tonight they will be in the semi-final of the Champions League.

The Gunners have only managed to reach the last four just twice before.

Since the Gunners reached the semi-final for the last time in 2008-09, the Bundesliga giants have progressed on eight separate occasions in Europe’s premier club tournament.

These statistics show why tonight is so important to everybody involved with Arsenal.

Harry Kane has been scoring at a rate he’s never done before this season.

The former Spurs star has netted 39 goals in as many games this season, with seven coming in the Champions League.

With Kylian Mbappe scoring a brace last night, Kane has been knocked off of top spot in the Champions League scoring charts.

I’m sure he’ll want to get back on his perch and we all know he loves a goal against Arsenal. He has 15 in 20 appearances against them after he scored last week.

Can he bag another tonight?

Thomas Tuchel, Bayern Munich boss, speaking on Tuesday:

We have a slight advantage when you look at our experience in this competition, but to turn it into a real advantage, you also need a top performance. We’re ready to give it everything we’ve got.

We’ll need everything again. We’ll need passion and the same tactical discipline as in the first leg. We really want to win this game. It’ll be extremely important that every fan comes to support and push us.

They play a very attractive brand of football at the highest level. We did well in the first leg, but we’re only halfway through the tie. We need everything again and hope that playing at home will give us the boost we need.

I can’t believe it’s already been a week!

Arsenal and Bayern served us up a treat last week. The game had everything, four goals, penalty drama, turnarounds – it was brilliant.

The Gunners have Leandro Trossard to thank for why they go to Munich on terms.

Arsenal started as they always do, on the front foot, and Bukayo Saka sent the Emirates into chaos with an early goal.

However, Bayern hit them with a quickfire double through Serge Gnabry and Harry Kane to burst their bubble.

The Gunners struggled after that, but the man for the big occasions, Trosaard, spared their blushes and sent them to Germany with something to fight for.

If we get another game like this I will have a beaming smile on my face.

What a beautiful stadium the Allianz Arena is.

In just over two hours it will be at full capacity and the nerves will be jangling in both the home and away end.

I’m anticipating there to be an exceptional atmosphere tonight, but it may have the life sucked out of it if Arsenal romp to victory.

I simply have to mention the chaos at the end of last week’s tie.

The scenes that engulfed the Emirates upon the full-time whistle last week were ones of rage at the referee.

Why you ask? Well, that’s an easy question to answer.

It all started when Bukayo Saka was wiped out by Manuel Neuer in the dying embers of the match.

Upon first viewing, it looked like a stonewall penalty, but after watching it more and more, the debate started on whether Saka leaped in the direction of Neuer.

That’s the view the referee took as he waved play on, which led to minutes of protests from the Arsenal side.

Personally, I think he got it right, however, will Arsenal look back on that moment if they fail to progress this evening.

In all honesty, I still don’t know why Saka didn’t just carry on and put it in the net…

Many people, including myself, don’t believe Arsenal’s season will unravel like this time last year.

However, Sunday’s disastrous defeat has cast doubt into people’s minds as to if they will crumble once again.

Tonight they have the chance to prove those who doubt them wrong. If they win, they’ll certainly do that.

If they lose, the ghosts of years gone by will have well and truly entered their psyche.

Can they banish them this evening?

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal boss, speaking on Tuesday:

A performance puts us in the Champions League semi-final. All the preparation has been to achieve that. We have earned it. We have earned it for ten months and everything we did last season, to start our journey in the Champions League after so many years.

Tomorrow we have an unbelievable opportunity to make it happen. Regardless of that result against Villa, it is going to have no impact on what’s going to happen here.

Refocus and start to build the confidence, trust, and understanding for the performance that we are going to have to put in to beat them and go through in the tie.

I’m sorry Arsenal fans, you’re playing away at Bayern Munich, I have to mention it.

The Allianz Arena has not been a happy hunting ground for Arsenal over the years.

The Gunners’ last two visits to Bavaria have resulted in humiliating 5-1 defeats. They have also won just one of their six away games against Bayern in the Champions League, losing four.

I’m sure these statistics don’t ease your nerves, Arsenal fans.

Harry Kane, Bayern Munich striker, speaking on Tuesday:

Yeah, for sure [it is unfinished business], whenever you reach the final of a competition and don’t quite get over the line there’s always that burning fire inside you to get back there and go that one step further.

We have an opportunity this year and with a big moment tomorrow. It is no secret here that the club set out to win the Champions League every season, so there is an expectation.

I have a lot of history with Arsenal, playing for Spurs for so many years, that north London derby was probably the biggest game of the season every year in the Premier League But for me, here, it’s a different chapter. Of course, I know there will be a lot of Spurs fans watching tomorrow, hoping that Bayern go through, but I can’t focus on that.

Yes, I know, football isn’t won on pre-match statistics, but this should give Arsenal fans some hope.

Bayern Munich have not had the best record in Champions League quarter-finals in recent seasons.

They have been eliminated at this stage in each of the past three seasons to PSG in 2020-21, Villarreal in 2021-22, and Manchester City in 2022-23.

If Arsenal are victorious tonight Bayern will become the second club to be eliminated in the Champions League quarter-finals in four consecutive seasons, after PSG from 2012-13 to 2015-16.

I always say though, stats are there to be broken.

While the spotlight will predominantly be on Arsenal tonight, don’t get it mistaken, it’s a huge night for Bayern Munich too.

The Bavarians finally relinquished their stranglehold on the Bundesliga at the weekend after Bayer Leverkusen’s 5-0 victory won them the title.

That means the Champions League is their final chance to win silverware this season. Imagine Bayern going trophyless?

The pressure is truly on them tonight, for a club of their magnitude to go a whole season without silverware is unthinkable, but this campaign it is more than likely.

There is so much at stake for both clubs tonight, it’s simply brilliant, well, if you’re neutral anyway.

Tonight feels huge for this Arsenal side.

After the deflation of their 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa at the weekend, which gave the initiative to Manchester City in the title race, the pressure on them has ramped up to another level.

It’s fair to say, the Gunners were miles from their best in the first leg, it looked the the enormity of the occasion got to them. They can’t let that happen tonight.

Comparing both of the seasons that Arsenal and Bayern Munich have had respectively, Arsenal should be the favorites tonight.

However, their last two performances have thrown caution into the wind and it feels like Bayern are in the better position to progress tonight.

Even with all that though, this match is such a hard one to call, you can almost forget the first leg after it finished all square.

It all comes down to tonight, do Arsenal have the mettle?

Nights like these are what football fans live for.

It will be an evening full of anticipation, nerves, euphoria, and maybe even misery – a cocktail of emotions that make the Champions League so special.

It’s crunch time for Arsenal. Tonight, they can make another gigantic step on their journey under Mikel Arteta and qualify for a Champions League semi-final.

In their way, Bayern Munich. They’ve been there before, many times, but do their current crop of players have what it takes to take down one of Europe’s current top sides?

Harry Kane will certainly want to have his say like he did in the first leg and Tottenham fans will certainly want him to destroy their bitter rivals’ dreams.

After typing all that, my excitement has ramped up two-fold. It’s time to get your seatbelts on, it’s going to be a bumpy ride, especially if you’re an Arsenal fan.