Big game: Arsenal battle Bayern Munich in Champions League showdown at the Emirates Stadium
Arsenal take on Bayern Munich tonight as a massive week in the Champions League continues. After Chelsea cruised past Barcelona on Tuesday, the Gunners are hoping to make a similar statement in another heavyweight league phase fixture at the Emirates Stadium that sees arguably Europe’s two best teams this season lock horns. Mikel Arteta’s side now have a six-point lead at the Premier League summit after thrashing Tottenham in the north London derby and also boast a 100 per cent record on the continent, brushing aside the likes of Atletico Madrid.
But this evening they meet their equals in Bayern, who have the same advantage at the top of the Bundesliga and have also won all four of their Champions League games to date this term, beating holders PSG in Paris last time out despite going down to 10 men before half-time. Arsenal will hope to have captain Martin Odegaard back from injury, though they remain without the services of star striker Viktor Gyokeres.
Vincent Kompany, meanwhile, must decide who should replace the suspended Luis Diaz, joining a prolific attack alongside Harry Kane and Michael Olise. Follow Arsenal vs Bayern Munich live below!
Arsenal vs Bayern Munich latest news
Arteta: Bayern clash is 'great' test to see where Arsenal are
Both sides could have hardly enjoyed better preparation for tonight’s huge game, with Arsenal demolishing arch-rivals Tottenham 4-1 in the north London derby on Sunday thanks to Eberechi Eze’s stylish hat-trick and Bayern smashing Freiburg 6-2 in the Bundesliga.
Mikel Arteta wants to see more of the same in what he believes will be a real opportunity and chance to show just how far his side have come.
"We have to make sure that we carry that energy tomorrow again to the stadium, to each individual and play with the same dominance, aggression, and efficiency against a top side," he said.
"This is the kind of game in the competition that we want to face and we've been very consistent.
"They have been as well and tomorrow is a great test for us to see where we are.
"Every opponent brings different challenges. Obviously they are in a great moment.
"The level of consistency they show in results, performances, in every metric that they have is very, very impressive. We know that.
"But as well it's a massive opportunity for us to show what we are capable of."
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal vs Bayern Munich prediction
Arguably the two best teams in Europe at the moment collide in what is an enormous game at the Emirates.
It is so hard to pick between Arsenal and Bayern, who have both been so dominant so far this season both at home and in Europe, scoring plenty of goals and conceding very few.
Bayern may previously have had the psychological edge given some of the humblings they have dished out in this fixture over the years, but this is a different Gunners team now with a far tougher mentality and resolve, not to mention their greatly improved quality and strength in depth under Arteta.
We anticipate an entertaining back-and-forth tussle not short on goalmouth action in which momentum swings sharply and frequently, resulting in a hard-fought share of the spoils and Harry Kane inevitably getting on the scoresheet at least once.
Draw, 2-2.
Bayern Munich team news: Luis Diaz suspended
Bayern are without Luis Diaz, with the former Liverpool forward handed a three-match ban by UEFA following his tackle on Achraf Hakimi that saw him sent off after he had scored both goals in a statement 2-1 win over Champions League holders PSG in Paris earlier this month.
Ex-Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry and teenage sensation Lennart Karl both look to be fit after respective knocks as Vincent Kompany weighs up who best to replace Diaz in attack alongside the prolific Harry Kane and Michael Olise.
Joshua Kimmich and Hiroki Ito were both involved in the 6-2 thrashing of Freiburg in the Bundesliga at the weekend, while captain Manuel Neuer started after illness.
Bayern are still missing Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies as they continue to ramp things up after serious injury.
Arsenal team news: Late Odegaard decision
Arsenal will hope that Martin Odegaard can play some part in tonight's game, with manager Mikel Arteta saying at yesterday's pre-match press conference that they would have a meeting to decide the status of their influential captain after he was deemed not quite fit enough in the end to be involved in Sunday's 4-1 demolition of Tottenham in a one-sided north London derby.
Odegaard has not played since the win over West Ham in early October after suffering knee ligament damage on his return from a persistent shoulder injury.
This game comes too early for Viktor Gyokeres (hamstring) and Kai Havertz (knee), though Arteta is hopeful that the attacking duo will be in contention for another huge showdown with Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.
Arsenal were expected to find out after another scan today a clearer time frame for Gabriel's return from an adductor injury suffered playing for Brazil, with the centre-back set to miss a period of weeks.
Riccardo Calafiori shook off a hip issue to start against Spurs, while Noni Madueke came off the bench and Gabriel Martinelli was also included in the matchday squad after injury.
Gabriel Jesus is training fully after an anterior cruciate ligament rupture that has kept him out since January, though Arsenal plan to ease him back into action with a behind-closed-doors friendly and he isn't eligible for the league phase of the Champions League anyway.
TV channel: Tonight's high-profile clash will be televised live in the UK on TNT Sports. Coverage begins at 7pm GMT on TNT Sports 1.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also watch the game live online via the Discovery+ app and website.
Arsenal vs Bayern Munich live
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport's live coverage of Arsenal vs Bayern Munich as a massive week of heavyweight clashes in the Champions League continues.
Last night we saw stylish Chelsea vanquish 10-man Barcelona with ease at Stamford Bridge, but now the focus quickly switches from west to north London - where a certain Harry Kane is back in town.
Arguably the two best teams in Europe so far this season collide in a blockbuster showdown at the Emirates Stadium, both boasting 100 per cent records in this competition to date and respective dominant six-point title leads domestically.
It might still only be the league phase, but victory for either side this evening would send a serious statement of intent across the continent - particularly from Arsenal, who have been on the receiving end of a few thrashings from Bayern over the years.
Kick-off is at the usual time of 8pm GMT, so stick with us for build-up, breaking team news and regular game updates, plus expert analysis from Arsenal correspondent Simon Collings at the Emirates.