Sport

Arsenal vs Bayern could be a clash of Europe’s two best teams

Nobody is truly sure how much the League Phase table at this stage of the Champions League reveals, but Arsenal and Bayern Munich are certainly leading the way. Four games into the campaign, both teams have a perfect record in the competition, making Wednesday’s clash at the Emirates Stadium the season’s most anticipated European fixture to date.

These might be the two best teams in Europe. Arsenal and Bayern’s performances in the Champions League tell us that with Inter Milan the only other side to have won four out of four in the League Phase, but their domestic success is another indicator of the level they are both operating at.

Arsenal are six points clear at the top of the Premier League table, and deservedly so. While Liverpool and Manchester City have struggled for consistency, certainly in the case of the former, Mikel Arteta’s team have set an incredible pace. Not content with simply winning the title, Arsenal could feasibly run away with it.

Bayern Munich are in an even stronger position at the top of the Bundesliga having won 10 of their 11 fixtures so far, drawing the other one. They might as well hand the trophy to the Bavarians now because nobody else in the German top flight will even finish within touching distance of them.

The attacking quality on display this week will be remarkable. In Michael Olise and Bukayo Saka, Arsenal and Bayern Munich boast two of the best wingers in the world. Saka remains the Gunners’ most reliable funnel into the final third while Olise has flourished as an all-round creative threat since leaving Crystal Palace.

Eberechi Eze demonstrated his all-round creative threat by netting a hat trick for Arsenal in the 4-1 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur in Sunday’s North London Derby. The England international has hit the ground running since joining in the summer, as has Luis Diaz for Bayern Munich – the Colombian already has 15 goal contributions in all competitions.

As good as Viktor Gyokeres is, though, Arsenal don’t have a centre forward on the level of Bayern’s. Harry Kane remains one of the best in the world in his position, netting 24 goals in all competitions this season, and has even been utilised as a number 10 on occasion recently. His passing range is unmatched for a number nine.

Wednesday’s match could be decided in the centre of the pitch. This is where Arsenal might have a slight advantage with Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi capable of controlling any game. In Joshua Kimmich, though, the German champions also boast an elite level pace-setter.

Defensively, Arsenal have yet to concede a single goal in this season’s Champions League. William Saliba is one of the most accomplished centre backs anywhere in the game right now while full backs Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber are key to Arsenal’s approach on both sides of the ball. Calafiori in particular is incredibly adventurous with his runs in between the lines.

Vincent Kompany’s aggressive approach puts pressure on Bayern Munich’s defence which is often positioned high up the pitch. This will give Arsenal space to exploit in behind, but it could also congest the middle and make it easier for the Bavarians to play their natural game in the opposition half.

With both Arsenal and Bayern well-placed to make the knockout rounds, Wednesday’s meeting might not be played with the highest stakes. However, either team could put down an early marker with the latter rounds of this season’s Champions League in mind? Would anyone be surprised if Arsenal and Bayern met in the final? This could be a useful precursor.