Munich set to gun down Arsenal despite Ribery absence

In Bayern Munich’s last 10 fixtures in all competitions, they have won nine – with a loss against Manchester City – scored an incredible 32 times and kept six clean sheets.

Champions League holders Munich travel to Arsenal on February 19th exactly a year to the day of last season’s 3-1 victory for the German side. Odds of 12/1 say that Pep Guardiola’s side can get the same scoreline again.

Treble winners last term, Bayern are in imperious form in the Bundesliga and are currently on a 46-match run without defeat. They currently lie top with a 16-point margin.

Manager Guardiola will be looking to take that superb run into the game at the Emirates, as the competition’s favourites (9/4) hope to establish a good advantage from the first leg of this tricky tie.

The stats don’t look promising for Arsenal in the goal-department, as main front-man Olivier Giroud has gone four games in all competitions without scoring. German centurion Lukas Podolski has a relatively poor record against his former club, having netted in only three out of 11 attempts.

Polish-born Podolski, however, did manage to score the Gunners’ sole goal in the home tie last year, and you can back him at 5/2 to net anytime again.

Arsenal’s other German players have contrasting personal records against Munich. Giant centre back Per Mertesacker has played the Bundesliga heavyweights a total of 18 times throughout his competitive career, but his side have managed just three victories and 10 losses,with just two of those matches being clean sheets.

Mesut Ozil, however, has fared slightly better against them. In four Bundesliga starts against Munich, he has managed two goals and two assists.

The 25-year-old has played against the Germans before in the Champions League knockout rounds for Real Madrid – back in 2012 – and although both games were losses, he did get a goal and assist. Back Ozil at 7/2 to score again anytime.

Despite Arsenal’s recent Premier League 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool and the goalless draw at home to Manchester United, they managed to get revenge on Brendan Rodgers’ side in their 2-0 FA Cup win.

Arsene Wenger is expected to put the likes of Jack Wilshere and Wojciech Szczesny back in his starting XI, after resting them against Liverpool. Mikel Arteta, however, is banned.

For Bayern, key player Franck Ribery, who came third in this year’s Ballon d’Or, and Xherdan Shaqiri are out injured. Bastian Schweinsteiger, on the other hand, is fit to start.

Full terms and conditions of the special new customer bet on Bayern beating Arsenal, see here.