Arsenal are drawing 0-0 at half-time in their do-or-die Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich in Germany.
Mikel Arteta’s side have had multiple chances to stick their noses in front, with Gabriel Martinelli squandering a close-range chance, but Bayern have grown into the game.
Arsenal are looking to reach their first Champions League semi-final final since 2009 and will have to do so by overcoming a hoodoo against the German giants.
The London club have travelled to Germany seeking the golden ticket after drawing 2-2 in the first leg last week at the Emirates.
Arsenal’s stars were accompanied by their wives and girlfriends on the trip. Laura, Leandro Trossard’s wife, shared a photo of her, Kai Havertz’s fiancee Sophia Weber, Martin Odegaard’s partner Helen Spilling, and Ben White’s wife Milly arrayed in their Arsenal kits ahead of the game.
They were greeted by a pulsating atmosphere in Munich, with flares, flags, and drums fuelling an imposing energy from the home fans.
Arsenal are looking to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League against Bayern Munich
Such scenes might resurrect sour memories for Arsenal fans, who were dumped out of Europe via heavy defeats against Bayern in the latter years of Arsene Wenger’s reign.
Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard were named in the starting line-up for in welcome news for Arsenal fans.
The star pair were potential injury doubts after Saka limped around during the 2-0 defeat by Aston Villa while Odegaard had to come off.
Takehiro Tomiyasu was also given the nod at left-back ahead of Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Jorginho comes back into the midfield after being benched for Sunday’s game while Gabriel Martinelli is on the left wing.
If Arsenal get past Bayern in Germany tonight, they will reach the last four of Europe’s elite competition for the first time since 2008/09.
They have made huge strides forward under manager Mikel Arteta, who used to play for the club.
They finished second in the Premier League last season and are currently placed there this campaign.
The club has never won the Champions League and if Arteta were to lead them to such glory, he would be immortalised.
Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard both started the game despite their fitness concerns
Mikel Arteta is aiming to lead Arsenal to their first Champions League semi-final since 2009
Bayern Munich fans brought a pulsating atmosphere to the Allianz Arena, which has seen lots of glory over the years
Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel is looking to reach the semi-finals with a third team, having previously done so with Paris St-Germain and Chelsea.
The only manager to do so with more than three sides is Jose Mourinho with Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
More to follow.
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