Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Kimmich, Upamecano, Kim, Davies; Goretzka, Laimer; Sane, Musiala, Gnabry; Kane
The buildup to the upcoming clash between Arsenal and Bayern Munich is rife with updates on player fitness and potential lineup adjustments, setting the stage for what promises to be a pivotal match for both teams.
Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, despite acknowledging his struggles towards the end of the recent victory over Brighton, has played down concerns about his fitness and is expected to feature prominently in Tuesday's lineup. With only Jurrien Timber sidelined due to an ACL injury, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has a near-full squad to choose from. However, caution is warranted for Declan Rice and Kai Havertz, as another booking for either player would result in their absence for the second leg at the Allianz Arena.
While Arteta must balance the risk of potential suspensions with the importance of key players, he may opt for some alterations on the left side of the field, potentially reinstating Gabriel Martinelli and Takehiro Tomiyasu to the starting lineup for this significant fixture.
On the Bayern Munich front, the return of Dayot Upamecano provides a boost to their defensive line, with the defender available again after missing the previous match due to suspension. Additionally, Bayern welcomes back several key players who were sidelined with various injuries, including Manuel Neuer, Kingsley Coman, Leroy Sane, Noussair Mazraoui, and Aleksandar Pavlovic.
However, Bayern is not without its injury concerns, with Gabriel Marusic, Tarek Buchmann, Bouna Sarr, Sacha Boey, and Noel Aseko all unavailable for selection. Nonetheless, the presence of fit and in-form striker Harry Kane adds a significant threat to Arsenal's defense, as he aims to build on his impressive goal-scoring record against his former club.
As the teams finalize their preparations and navigate through the complexities of player availability, anticipation mounts for what could be a defining match in the post-Wenger era for Arsenal, with both sides eager to secure a positive result in this high-stakes encounter.