Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich: UEFA Champions League LIVE blog and team news

After continuing their perfect league phase start against reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain last time out, Bayern Munich face another stern test of their UEFA Champions League credentials when they travel to fellow high-flyers Arsenal on Wednesday (kick-off: 9pm CET).

Find out why Bayern will beat Arsenal!

Having swept aside Chelsea, Pafos, Club Brugge and PSG in the Champions League, Bayern will be confident of meting out the same treatment to an Arsenal side who have only beaten them three times in 14 attempts.

Indeed, Bayern have not lost to the Gunners since the 2015/16 group stage, recording three 5-1 victories over the north London outfit in the intervening years. They also got the better of Arsenal in last season’s quarter-finals, triumphing 3-2 on aggregate.

Watch: The cornerstones of Bayern's success

Bayern came from 2-0 down to beat Freiburg 6-2 in the Bundesliga at the weekend, extending their unbeaten start to 2025/26 to 18 competitive games. Vincent Kompany’s side have only dropped points once during that run - drawing 2-2 away to Union Berlin prior to the November international break.

Kompany rested midfield lynchpin Joshua Kimmich against Freiburg, while full-back Konrad Laimer began the game on the bench. Both should return to the starting line-up in London, but forward Serge Gnabry is a doubt after missing out at the weekend with a knee problem.

The Bundesliga leaders are also without Luis Díaz, who has been suspended for three matches following his red card against PSG. Michael Olise started in a central role on Saturday, registering two goals and three assists. Teenager Lennart Karl also had a hand in a couple of goals, before going off injured.

Chelsea loanee Nicolas Jackson could come in as a result, with Harry Kane dropping into a deeper role, as he has on a number of occasions already this season. The England striker will be looking to continue his phenomenal goalscoring run against Arsenal, having found the net 15 times against them in all competitions. He also has 24 goals to show for his first 18 appearances of the current club campaign.

Having played at left-back and in midfield against Freiburg, versatile Germany U21 international Tom Bischof could complete the attacking triumverate, but the game comes too soon for left-back Alphonso Davies and playmaker Jamal Musiala - though both are training again after long-term injuries.

Like Bayern, Mikel Arteta’s side are flying high in all competitions this season. Top of the Premier League with a four-point cushion over closest pursuers Manchester City, Arsenal are one of only three sides - along with Bayern and Inter Milan - who still boast a 100 percent record in the Champions League league phase.

Arteta, however, arguably has more pressing personnel problems to contend with. Defender Gabriel is expected to be sidelined for several weeks after picking up an injury on international duty, while former Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz and Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus also remain in the treatment room.

Whether Viktor Gyökeres, Noni Madueke, Martin Ødegaard or Gabriel Martinelli play any part in Wednesday’s clash also remains to be seen.

Former Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz will miss Wednesday's game through injury. - IMAGO/Jed Leicester/Shutterstock

Match stats

• Bayern have lost only two of their last 12 UEFA competition matches against English opposition (W8 D2).
• The Bavarians have lost only two of their last 15 Champions League matches (W11 D2).
• In the group/league phase, Bayern have suffered only three defeats in their last 52 encounters (W45 D4).
• Only one of Bayern’s last 73 UEFA competition games has finished goalless.
• Kane has five Champions League goals this season, along with Erling Haaland (Man City) and Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid. Only Galatasaray's Victor Osimhen has more after four league-phase fixtures (six).
• Arsenal have won only two of their last nine UEFA competition matches against German sides (D1 L6).

Probable line-ups

Arsenal: Raya - Timber, Saliba, Mosquera, Calafiori - Zubimendi, Rice - Saka (c), Eze, Trossard - Merino
Out: Gabriel (thigh), Havertz (knee), Jesus (knee)
Doubtful: Gyökeres (muscle), Martinelli (muscle), Ødegaard (knee), Madueke (knee)
Coach: Mikel Arteta

Bayern: Neuer (c) - Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Stanišić - Kimmich, Pavlović - Olise, Kane, Bischof - Jackson
Out: Davies (fitness), Díaz (suspended), Musiala (fitness)
Doubtful: Gnabry (knee), Karl (hip)
Coach: Vincent Kompany

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