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Bayern Munich vs Arsenal (agg 2-2) – Champions League quarter-final: Live score, team news and updates as Gunners look to bounce back from slip-up against Aston Villa

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It’s crunch time for Arsenal with nagging fears resurfacing, writes SAMI MOKBEL

This headline hits the nail on the head.

Arsenal have a huge night in store, arguably their biggest under Mikel Arteta.

Sami Mokbel, Mail Sport, is at the Allianz Arena tonight to witness the big clash, and he has shared his thoughts on the tie before the match.

To read the article, click below:

Last four within reach for Gunners

Arsenal fans are not used to being in these situations, win tonight they will be in the semi-final of the Champions League.

The Gunners have only managed to reach the last four just twice before.

Since the Gunners reached the semi-final for the last time in 2008-09, the Bundesliga giants have progressed on eight separate occasions in Europe’s premier club tournament.

These statistics show why tonight is so important to everybody involved with Arsenal.

Kane chasing UCL Golden Boot

Harry Kane has been scoring at a rate he’s never done before this season.

The former Spurs star has netted 39 goals in as many games this season, with seven coming in the Champions League.

With Kylian Mbappe scoring a brace last night, Kane has been knocked off of top spot in the Champions League scoring charts.

I’m sure he’ll want to get back on his perch and we all know he loves a goal against Arsenal. He has 15 in 20 appearances against them after he scored last week.

Can he bag another tonight?

Thomas Tuchel: ‘We have a slight advantage’

Thomas Tuchel, Bayern Munich boss, speaking on Tuesday:

We have a slight advantage when you look at our experience in this competition, but to turn it into a real advantage, you also need a top performance. We’re ready to give it everything we’ve got.

We’ll need everything again. We’ll need passion and the same tactical discipline as in the first leg. We really want to win this game. It’ll be extremely important that every fan comes to support and push us.

They play a very attractive brand of football at the highest level. We did well in the first leg, but we’re only halfway through the tie. We need everything again and hope that playing at home will give us the boost we need.

MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 16: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally enhanced.) Thomas Tuchel, head coach of FC Bayern Muenchen talks at the press conference at Allianz Arena on April 16, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by F. Noever/FC Bayern via Getty Images)

First Leg: Late Trossard strike earns Gunners draw

I can’t believe it’s already been a week!

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Arsenal and Bayern served us up a treat last week. The game had everything, four goals, penalty drama, turnarounds – it was brilliant.

The Gunners have Leandro Trossard to thank for why they go to Munich on terms.

Arsenal started as they always do, on the front foot, and Bukayo Saka sent the Emirates into chaos with an early goal.

However, Bayern hit them with a quickfire double through Serge Gnabry and Harry Kane to burst their bubble.

The Gunners struggled after that, but the man for the big occasions, Trosaard, spared their blushes and sent them to Germany with something to fight for.

If we get another game like this I will have a beaming smile on my face.

Calm before the storm

What a beautiful stadium the Allianz Arena is.

In just over two hours it will be at full capacity and the nerves will be jangling in both the home and away end.

I’m anticipating there to be an exceptional atmosphere tonight, but it may have the life sucked out of it if Arsenal romp to victory.

MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 17: A general view of the arena with the match ball prior to the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match between FC Bayern München and Arsenal FC at Allianz Arena on April 17, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 17: A general view of the arena prior to the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match between FC Bayern München and Arsenal FC at Allianz Arena on April 17, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

More penalty drama in store?

I simply have to mention the chaos at the end of last week’s tie.

The scenes that engulfed the Emirates upon the full-time whistle last week were ones of rage at the referee.

Why you ask? Well, that’s an easy question to answer.

It all started when Bukayo Saka was wiped out by Manuel Neuer in the dying embers of the match.

Upon first viewing, it looked like a stonewall penalty, but after watching it more and more, the debate started on whether Saka leaped in the direction of Neuer.

That’s the view the referee took as he waved play on, which led to minutes of protests from the Arsenal side.

Personally, I think he got it right, however, will Arsenal look back on that moment if they fail to progress this evening.

In all honesty, I still don’t know why Saka didn’t just carry on and put it in the net…

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 9: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal goes down after coming together with Manuel Neuer of Bayern Munich in injury time during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern Munchen at Emirates Stadium on April 9, 2024 in London, England.(Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Soccer Football - Champions League - Quarter Final - First Leg - Arsenal v Bayern Munich - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - April 9, 2024 Arsenal's Bukayo Saka remonstrates with referee Glenn Nyberg Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

Time for Arsenal to silence the doubters?

Many people, including myself, don’t believe Arsenal’s season will unravel like this time last year.

However, Sunday’s disastrous defeat has cast doubt into people’s minds as to if they will crumble once again.

Tonight they have the chance to prove those who doubt them wrong. If they win, they’ll certainly do that.

If they lose, the ghosts of years gone by will have well and truly entered their psyche.

Can they banish them this evening?

Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Aston Villa - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - April 14, 2024 Arsenal's William Saliba and Jorginho look dejected Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins scores their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR 'LIVE' SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 45 IMAGES, NO VIDEO EMULATION. NO USE IN BETTING, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS.

Mikel Arteta: Villa result will have ‘no impact’

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal boss, speaking on Tuesday:

A performance puts us in the Champions League semi-final. All the preparation has been to achieve that. We have earned it. We have earned it for ten months and everything we did last season, to start our journey in the Champions League after so many years.

Tomorrow we have an unbelievable opportunity to make it happen. Regardless of that result against Villa, it is going to have no impact on what’s going to happen here.

Refocus and start to build the confidence, trust, and understanding for the performance that we are going to have to put in to beat them and go through in the tie.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during a press conference at the Allianz Arena, Munich. Picture date: Tuesday April 16, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Arsenal. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire.RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.

Gunners’ nightmares in Munich

I’m sorry Arsenal fans, you’re playing away at Bayern Munich, I have to mention it.

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The Allianz Arena has not been a happy hunting ground for Arsenal over the years.

The Gunners’ last two visits to Bavaria have resulted in humiliating 5-1 defeats. They have also won just one of their six away games against Bayern in the Champions League, losing four.

I’m sure these statistics don’t ease your nerves, Arsenal fans.

MUNICH, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 15: Shkodran Mustafi of Arsenal looks dejected during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between FC Bayern Muenchen and Arsenal FC at Allianz Arena on February 15, 2017 in Munich, Germany.  Bayern Munich won the game 5-1(Photo by Matthias Hangst/Bongarts/Getty Images)

‘Burning fire’ inside Harry Kane to win UCL

Harry Kane, Bayern Munich striker, speaking on Tuesday:

Yeah, for sure [it is unfinished business], whenever you reach the final of a competition and don’t quite get over the line there’s always that burning fire inside you to get back there and go that one step further.

We have an opportunity this year and with a big moment tomorrow. It is no secret here that the club set out to win the Champions League every season, so there is an expectation.

I have a lot of history with Arsenal, playing for Spurs for so many years, that north London derby was probably the biggest game of the season every year in the Premier League But for me, here, it’s a different chapter. Of course, I know there will be a lot of Spurs fans watching tomorrow, hoping that Bayern go through, but I can’t focus on that.

Bayern Munich's Harry Kane during a press conference at the Allianz Arena, Munich. Picture date: Tuesday April 16, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Bayern Munich. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire.RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.

Bayern’s bad omens

Yes, I know, football isn’t won on pre-match statistics, but this should give Arsenal fans some hope.

Bayern Munich have not had the best record in Champions League quarter-finals in recent seasons.

They have been eliminated at this stage in each of the past three seasons to PSG in 2020-21, Villarreal in 2021-22, and Manchester City in 2022-23.

If Arsenal are victorious tonight Bayern will become the second club to be eliminated in the Champions League quarter-finals in four consecutive seasons, after PSG from 2012-13 to 2015-16.

I always say though, stats are there to be broken.

MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 19: Erling Haaland of Manchester City misses a penalty during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg match between FC Bayern München and Manchester City at Allianz Arena on April 19, 2023 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 19: Dayot Upamecano of Bayern Muenchen looks dejected after the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg match between FC Bayern München and Manchester City at Allianz Arena on April 19, 2023 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Roland Krivec/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Last chance saloon for Bayern

While the spotlight will predominantly be on Arsenal tonight, don’t get it mistaken, it’s a huge night for Bayern Munich too.

The Bavarians finally relinquished their stranglehold on the Bundesliga at the weekend after Bayer Leverkusen’s 5-0 victory won them the title.

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That means the Champions League is their final chance to win silverware this season. Imagine Bayern going trophyless?

The pressure is truly on them tonight, for a club of their magnitude to go a whole season without silverware is unthinkable, but this campaign it is more than likely.

There is so much at stake for both clubs tonight, it’s simply brilliant, well, if you’re neutral anyway.

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 9: Serge Gnabry (C) of Bayern Muenchen celebrates with teammates Leon Goretzka (L) and Harry Kane after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg match between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern München at Emirates Stadium on April 9, 2024 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Vincent Mignott/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Can Gunners defy the odds at the Allianz Arena?

Tonight feels huge for this Arsenal side.

After the deflation of their 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa at the weekend, which gave the initiative to Manchester City in the title race, the pressure on them has ramped up to another level.

It’s fair to say, the Gunners were miles from their best in the first leg, it looked the the enormity of the occasion got to them. They can’t let that happen tonight.

Comparing both of the seasons that Arsenal and Bayern Munich have had respectively, Arsenal should be the favorites tonight.

However, their last two performances have thrown caution into the wind and it feels like Bayern are in the better position to progress tonight.

Even with all that though, this match is such a hard one to call, you can almost forget the first leg after it finished all square.

It all comes down to tonight, do Arsenal have the mettle?

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 09: Arsenal players pose for a team group photo prior to the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern München at Emirates Stadium on April 09, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Arsenal’s moment of truth

Nights like these are what football fans live for.

It will be an evening full of anticipation, nerves, euphoria, and maybe even misery – a cocktail of emotions that make the Champions League so special.

It’s crunch time for Arsenal. Tonight, they can make another gigantic step on their journey under Mikel Arteta and qualify for a Champions League semi-final.

In their way, Bayern Munich. They’ve been there before, many times, but do their current crop of players have what it takes to take down one of Europe’s current top sides?

Harry Kane will certainly want to have his say like he did in the first leg and Tottenham fans will certainly want him to destroy their bitter rivals’ dreams.

After typing all that, my excitement has ramped up two-fold. It’s time to get your seatbelts on, it’s going to be a bumpy ride, especially if you’re an Arsenal fan.

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 9: Leandro Trossard of Arsenal celebrates scoring their 2nd goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern Munchen at Emirates Stadium on April 9, 2024 in London, England.(Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 09: Harry Kane of Bayern Munich  celebrates scoring his goal with Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry of Bayern during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern München at Emirates Stadium on April 09, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
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  • Arsenal’s moment of truth

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