With Bayern Munich having officially surrendered their Bundesliga title and Arsenal having slipped up in their bid to be Premier League champions, Wednesday’s Champions League clash feels all the more important.
Thomas Tuchel’s side underwhelmed in their search for a 12th successive Meisterschale and have been unable to match the unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen. Having crashed out of the DFB Pokal to third tier FC Saarbrucken, the Champions League is all they have left to play for in terms of silverware.
Arsenal’s Premier League title charge took a hit last Sunday following a 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa, meaning they are now playing catch-up with Manchester City. The Champions League may well be their only shot at a trophy this season too.
Wednesday’s quarter-final second leg feels even more significant after the weekend’s events, with both sides desperate to book their spot in the final four after a 2-2 draw at the Emirates in the first leg. However, injuries and absences will make both Tuchel and Mikel Arteta’s lives much more challenging midweek.
Here are all the players missing from Wednesday’s massive match-up at the Allianz Arena.
Tuchel has some selection dilemmas ahead of Arsenal’s visit, with injuries having plagued Bayern’s season. One player that isn’t injured is left-back Alphonso Davies, but he is suspended after picking up his third booking in the Champions League during the first leg in north London.
Bayern have a few issue on the wings, with Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman both unavailable with respective hamstring and groin injuries. Leroy Sane, who was so devastating in the first leg, is a doubt for the game, but there is a chance that the former Manchester City attacker features in some capacity.
Manuel Neuer is also a slight doubt for the second leg having been rested for the clash with Koln in the Bundesliga, but the expectation is that he will be fit to start on Wednesday.
Young defenders Tarek Buchmann and Gabriel Marusic are also missing through injury, as are the more experienced Sacha Boey and Bouna Sarr.
Arsenal fans were left sweating on the fitness of their captain and talisman Martin Odegaard on Sunday afternoon, the Norwegian withdrawn just before the end of their defeat to Villa due to a knock sustained at the Emirates.
While the Norwegian remains a slight doubt for the game at the Allianz, he has returned to training ahead of the trip to Bavaria, suggesting he is fit for the second leg.
Arsenal’s only guaranteed absentee is summer signing Jurrien Timber, who is yet to return from an ACL tear suffered on the first day of the season. He is closing in on a comeback, but may not play again this season.
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Bayern Munich |
Arsenal |
|---|---|
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Alphonso Davies (Suspended) |
Martin Odegaard (Doubt) |
|
Leroy Sane (Doubt) |
Jurrien Timber (Out) |
|
Manuel Neuer (Doubt) |
|
|
Serge Gnabry (Out) |
|
|
Kingsley Coman (Out) |
|
|
Sacha Boey (Out) |
|
|
Bouna Sarr (Out) |
|
|
Tarek Buchmann (Out) |
|
|
Gabriel Marusic (Out) |
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