Bayern Munich vs Arsenal preview – Champions League quarter-final second leg: amid injury nightmare Bayern Suffer Injury Blow as Martin Odegaard train to ease Gunners injury fear…

Rio Ferdinand, the ex-Manchester United captain and TNT Sports pundit, has expressed his belief that Arsenal face a challenging task in their Champions League quarter-final clash against Bayern Munich. This comes after their recent 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium.

Despite Arsenal’s aspirations of reaching the semi-finals for the first time since 2009, Ferdinand suggests that they are at a disadvantage.

The Gunners did manage to take an early lead through Bukayo Saka, who combined well with full-back Ben White on the right flank before expertly finishing the ball into the far corner, eluding the grasp of Manuel Neuer.

Nevertheless, the lead enjoyed by the Gunners was short-lived, lasting a mere five minutes. Former Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry swiftly equalized the score, courtesy of an exceptional through ball from Leon Goreztka, which allowed the German to expertly slot the ball past David Raya’s legs.

Unfortunately for Mikel Arteta’s men, their fortunes took a turn for the worse when William Saliba fouled Leroy Sane in the penalty box, resulting in a clear penalty. The penalty was calmly dispatched by ex-Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane, handing Thomas Tuchel’s side the lead.

The second half proved to be an entertaining affair, with the Gunners enjoying periods of dominance. Substitute Leandro Trossard managed to find the back of the net, equalizing the score just 15 minutes before the final whistle.

Gabriel Jesus showcased his exceptional footwork, evading three defenders before setting up Trossard, who confidently fired the ball home, igniting a wave of jubilation throughout the Emirates Stadium.

With the tie finely poised, the second leg promises to be an exciting encounter. Manchester City and Real Madrid also played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu on the same night, further adding to the anticipation.

However, Tuchel’s side may face some uncertainty regarding their team selection, as a series of injuries in recent days have dealt them significant setbacks.

Bayern had to make a total of seven changes for their recent Bundesliga match against FC Koln, as they were dealing with several injury concerns. Both Gnabry and Sane were completely ruled out, with Gnabry expected to be sidelined for several weeks due to a hamstring problem he picked up during his return to the Emirates Stadium.

Sane, on the other hand, aggravated a muscle issue that had kept him out of their previous league fixture.

In addition to these absences, Manuel Neuer was also missing from Bayern’s squad due to a fresh adductor problem.

Tuchel, speaking to Sky Germany before the game, explained that Neuer had reported adductor problems during training and although he wanted to play, the risk was too great to take. With Ulle being fit, there was no reason to take any unnecessary risks, especially with an eye on the upcoming Wednesday match.

Furthermore, Bayern’s superstar left-back Alphonso Davies was suspended for the quarter-final second leg. To add to their troubles, winger Kingsley Coman appeared to sustain a muscle injury and had to be substituted in the second half of their 2-0 victory. Sky Germany reported that Coman was taken to the hospital before the final whistle.

Ferdinand is confident that despite Tuchel’s team facing injuries, they still hold the upper hand over Arteta’s team as the match returns to the Allianz Arena next Wednesday. In an interview with TNT Sports, he stated: “I believe Bayern has the advantage.

“Arsenal has the potential to advance and possesses the necessary players for the task. They demonstrated in the initial match that they can pose a threat, but challenging a seasoned team like Bayern in this tournament is a significant challenge, albeit not an insurmountable one for Arsenal.”