Arsenal face Bayern Munich at the Emirates on Wednesday in a meeting of the two most impressive sides in Europe so far, and the contest arrives at a moment when Mikel Arteta’s team look capable of making another statement on the continental stage.
Both clubs have taken maximum points from their first four Champions League matches, but only one perfect record will survive the night.
Arsenal come into this fixture on the back of a dominant derby display that underlined their authority in the Premier League and reaffirmed their readiness to compete for major honours on multiple fronts this season.
Eberechi Eze’s hat-trick and Leandro Trossard’s opener dismantled Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend and extended Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table, adding further weight to the sense that this squad is operating at a level few teams can match.
Their Champions League form has been even more emphatic, with four straight wins, 11 goals scored and none conceded, as Arteta’s side have set a pace that only Bayern have been able to match.
Arsenal’s home record in Europe strengthens their position further, because they have won 15 straight Champions League league-phase matches at the Emirates and have rarely been threatened in this environment under Arteta.
This, however, is their sternest test of the season, and the type of fixture that will show whether Arsenal’s level is not only excellent but elite enough to beat a rival that has remained unbeaten in all competitions.
Bayern arrive in London with their own flawless record and an attacking rhythm that has overwhelmed almost every opponent they have faced, including reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain on matchday four.
They defeated PSG 2-1 in Paris despite playing the second half with 10 men, though they will be without Luis Diaz after his red card, which removes one of their central attacking threats.
Their response to that setback was a six-goal comeback win over Freiburg in the Bundesliga, driven by Michael Olise’s five direct involvements, and that performance reinforced the depth and variety in Vincent Kompany’s attack.
Bayern’s defensive record is less secure, with just seven clean sheets in 18 matches, but their firepower has compensated, and their recent history against Arsenal gives them additional confidence.
They have avoided defeat in their last five meetings with Arsenal and edged the Gunners in the 2023-24 quarter-finals, although this Arsenal side is significantly stronger and more complete.
Arteta’s team now have the chance to prove that their domestic dominance can translate to Europe and that their performances and squad depth justify genuine belief in a title challenge.
If Arsenal hit their highest level, they have the quality to put Bayern to the sword, but they will need precision, intensity and composure in a match that demands their very best.