Arsenal vs Bayern Munich – Champions League quarter-final LIVE: Live score, team news and updates as Gunners look to end the hoodoo against German giants

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Arsenal is in town

Arsenal’s players have arrived for one of the club’s biggest games in more than a decade.

Which 11 will be the lucky ones to start tonight?

We’ll find out soon.

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 09: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal arrives at the stadium ahead of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern Munich at the Emirates Stadium on April 9, 2024 in London, England.  (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 09: Arsenal's Jorginho arrives at the stadium ahead of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern Munich at the Emirates Stadium on April 9, 2024 in London, England.  (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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How did they both end up here?

Arsenal and Bayern Munich both had to overcome a deficit in the round of 16 to secure their place in the last eight.

Both sides’ routes to the quarter-finals were quite similar. Both sides topped their groups, both going 1-0 down in the first leg and both turning around their draw in the second to win at home.

However, their Champions League similarity will end here as they battle for a place in the semi-finals against Real Madrid or Man City.

How different will these stats look at the end of the night?

1712685119 653 Arsenal vs Bayern Munich Champions League quarter final LIVE Live
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‘You go into every match with a lot of self-confidence’

Aadam Patel, Mail Sport, was in the Emirates to speak to the Gunners fans ahead of kick-off this evening.

It seems there is confidence that Arsenal can turn Bayern Munich around.

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Captain Odegaard’s battle cry

The mood in the Arsenal camp is sky high at the moment, and so is the fanbase.

Ahead of tonight’s big match, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has called on fans to provide the noise.

We’ll also have the entire stadium tonight, so hopefully that can make a big difference in our favor, and it’s up to us to take full advantage of that. We know you will make the noise and turn the whole stadium red because everyone wants to be involved in big games like this. We’re looking forward to another memorable night for us, another packed house, and if we can maintain the atmosphere we had for the Porto match, it will be a great event.

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 3: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal FC celebrates after scoring a goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Luton Town at Emirates Stadium on April 3, 2024 in London, England.  (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
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Bayern away fans FORBIDDEN

If tonight’s task wasn’t already difficult for Bayern Munich, there won’t even be fans to cheer them on.

UEFA has banned Bayern Munich dancers from attending tonight’s match after their supporters threw fireworks onto the pitch during their match against Lazio in March.

So this is certainly something that Arsenal can use to their advantage tonight. The Emirates will be a cauldron of noise at kick-off.

ROME, ITALY - FEBRUARY 14: Bayern Munich fans show their support as they wave flags and light pyrotechnics ahead of the kick-off for the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 Round of 16 first leg between SS Lazio and FC Bayern Munich at Stadio Olimpico on February 14, 2024 in Rome, Italy.  (Photo by S. Mellar/FC Bayern via Getty Images)
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Arsenal’s chance to avenge Bayern’s grief

I’m sorry to have to remind you of this. Arsenal fans…

I think it’s fair to say that when you think of these two sides facing each other, you think of all the 5-1 defeats Arsenal have suffered against Bayern in recent times.

The Gunners have lost their past three matches against Bayern by the aforementioned scoreline. Not pleasant reading.

The Gunners were knocked out in the knockout stages of the Champions League by the German champions all five times they met.

But tonight you just feel like the bad form can end – well, at least I do.

Arsenal are rightly the favourites.

UEFA Champions League 2016/17 Round of 16 second leg, Arsenal v Bayern Munich, London, United Kingdom - March 7, 2017 Robert Lewandowski celebrates his penalty to make it 1-1 Munich won the match 5-1 and won on aggregate with 10-2.  .  REXMAILPIX.
Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looks dejected after the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg at the Emirates Stadium in London.  PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo.  Date of photo: Tuesday, March 7, 2017. See PA story FOOTBALL Arsenal.  Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire
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Return to North London for Kane

Now back to business on the field.

An old enemy returns to the Emirates tonight, Tottenham’s all-time top scorer Harry Kane. The former Spurs captain loved a game against Arsenal, and I’m sure he didn’t expect to return against his old rivals so soon after moving to Germany.

Kane has scored 14 goals in 19 games against Arsenal, five of which came at the Emirates, which is the combined number of goals scored by a visiting player on the pitch.

The England captain is still looking for his first success in senior football, and with all German domestic trophies virtually out of reach, the Champions League is his last option this season.

I’m sure he would love to be the person to ruin Arsenal’s chances of a first Champions League trophy.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 12: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur scores their side's first goal from the penalty spot during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 12, 2022 in London, England.  (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 12: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring their side's second goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 12, 2022 in London, England.  (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
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Security has been increased after the ISIS threat

Security will be increased in the Emirates tonight, as well as at all Champions League matches this week, after an ISIS media outlet shared a message on social media threatening all stadiums hosting the first matches of the Champions League quarter-finals .

The Metropolitan Police have said they are ‘aware of the threat and that a ‘robust policing plan’ had been put in place for tonight’s match.

Spanish and French ministers also revealed that security will be stepped up while all matches go ahead as planned.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan has reassured the public that Met police are prepared and will work ‘closely’ with Arsenal’s security team to ensure tonight’s match is ‘peaceful’.

epa11267743 Police outside Arsenal's Emirates Stadium ahead of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern Munich in London, Great Britain, April 9, 2024. EPA/ANDY RAIN
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Bayern’s last hope

Bayern Munich fans will be prepared to end this season as quickly as possible.

Unless they can defy the odds and win the Champions League. Many less impressive teams have accomplished this in the past.

Thomas Tuchel’s side are just one game away from relinquishing their Bundesliga dominance and have been eliminated from all domestic competitions.

So yes, the odds are stacked against a poor Bayern side that just can’t seem to find any form, but they still have the know-how to navigate this competition.

Harry Kane will obviously be key for them, while the likes of Joshua Kimmich and Thomas Muller were part of the team that secured the Champions League trophy in 2020.

They will have to rely on that experience if they want to get past Arsenal.

MUNICH, GERMANY – MARCH 09: Leon Goretzka of Bayern Munich celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammates Harry Kane and Raphael Guerreiro during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Munich and 1. FSV Mainz 05 at the Allianz Arena on 9 March 2024 in Munich, Germany.  (Photo by M. Donato/FC Bayern via Getty Images)
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High-flying Arsenal are ready for struggling Bayern

I said it on Saturday night, and I’ll say it today: something special is about to happen at Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s men have had doubts all season but have shown their maturity in the title race this season, reflected in their impressive 3-0 win away at Brighton.

They sit top of the Premier League thanks to a better goal difference than Liverpool, but tonight is a chance for them to show they can handle the pressure in Europe too.

The Champions League is a completely different game; many teams that have dominated in their respective leagues have struggled to translate that form to Europe.

While many people expect the Gunners to push Bayern Munich aside due to their differences in form, the Bavarian team still has several players who can cause them problems, including Harry Kane.

Form can go out the window in the knockout stages of the Champions League, so Arsenal will have to make sure they are in top form tonight.

It’s going to be a belter.

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – APRIL 06: Kai Havertz of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammates during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal FC at the American Express Community Stadium on April 6, 2024 in Brighton, England.  (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
HEIDENHEIM, GERMANY – APRIL 06: Harry Kane and Joshua Kimmich (R) of Bayern Munich look dejected after the defeat in the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 and FC Bayern Munich at Voith-Arena on April 6, 2024 in Heidenheim , Germany.  (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images) (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
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Arsenal’s road to Wembley continues…

Arsenal fans have waited fifteen years for a night like this.

Gunners fans have not seen their side participate in a Champions League quarter-final since 2010, but the wait ends tonight as Mikel Arteta’s side enter the Emirates stadium to take on Bayern Munich.

Recent history is not in Arsenal’s favour, but their form is, while the same cannot be said for the German champions.

However, Bayern do have a player in their ranks who has terrified the Gunners in the past. That player is Harry Kane, the former Tottenham captain returns to North London tonight.

It’s certainly a big night for Arsenal – we’ll see if they really are the real deal in Europe – this is their biggest test yet.

Then let’s get started!

epa11267714 Matchday decorations are seen next to the players' tunnel at Arsenal Emirates Stadium ahead of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern Munich in London, Great Britain, April 9, 2024. EPA/ANDY RAIN
Important updates

  • Arsenal’s road to Wembley continues…

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