Arsenal - Bayern Munich live online: score, stats & updates | Champions League

A half chance for Kiwior. He selects himself to go on a mission to redeem himself and directs a weak header towards Neuer, who giggles as he catches the bobbling ball.

We're back underway. Drama.

Kiwior can't control an admittedly terrible pass from Gabriel who is under no pressure at all. Goretzka latches onto it around halfway.

He drives forward and slips Gnabry in, who squeezes a low shot under Raya from close range. 

Suicidal football from the home side.

SAVE. Neuer saves White's effort from close range. The full-back raced in behind the Bayern defence and smashed a low, driven strike straight at the German.

Since the restart, it's been all Arsenal as they look to probe Bayern like curious aliens.

Back underway. 

Unfortunately for Davies, it looks like it was him who could - and should - have closed down Saka inside the box.

It's a lovely inside pass from White to Saka who cuts in from the right. The winger takes the ball in his stride, makes a yard of space for himself inside the box and whips a ferocious effort past Neuer at the far post.

BUKAYO SAKA

The home side are controlling the ball now after Bayern's early dominance. 

It looks like the ball goes out as Martinelli goes up against an out-of-place Davies on the right. The tall referee doesn't blow his whistle and allows the Brazilian to continue his adventure, but he runs it out himself.

His challenge on Saka was late, and perhaps a little revenge after the winger robbed him for Arsenal's earlier chance.

The first yellow of the game goes to Davies, who will miss the second leg.

CHANCE. Martinelli fires wide from the edge of the box and immediately asks for more from the crowd. Saka recovered from Davies high up the pitch and set the home side racing towards goal.

After 5 minutes and 8 seconds, Arsenal put together their first proper passing sequence. All of Bayern's defenders are holding firm as the London side edge towards Neuer.

Bayern still have the ball, and Arsenal have dropped back as the fans begin to boo...

It's a nervy start in London and Mikel Arteta already has his very cross face on as Bayern are controlling the ball.

Sané finds space down the right and whips a cross in that's cleared by Saliba.

A bit of head tennis to begin as neither team can keep hold of the ball.

AND WE'RE OFF!

Bayern get us rolling from right to left.

Glenn Nyberg has just shaken hands with Bayern captain Manuel Neuer which has made me realise that the referee is a huge man. 

'OUR HOUSE' reads the fan banner

The Arsenal fans' sign held up behind the players as the Champions League anthem booms out reads Nuestra Casa (Our house).

Bayern are German, lads.

Here they come!

The players are on the pitch...

The players are in the tunnel!

We're almost ready to go!

What a noise from the crowd!

The Arsenal home fans are singing their hearts out as we await the players!

Warmups over!

The two teams are in the dressings rooms for the final team talks ahead of kick-off!

Smiles and serious faces from the Gunners

Ødegaard and Rice were snapped before the game with contrasting emotions: the Norwegian looked serious while the Londoner had a grin on him like a Cheshire cat.

Will he be smiling at the end of the Game?

Final reminder of the two starting XIs:

ARSENAL: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Jorginho, Odegaard, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli

BAYERN: Neuer; Kimmich, Dier, de Ligt, Davies; Goretzka, Laimer; Gnabry, Musiala, Sane; Kane

How are the nerves?

Bayern are in all black as Arsenal take to the field in their classic home strip of white and red. This season's kit has a sprinkling of gold on the sleeves and collar. Will it be a symbol of success?

And the answer is...

The last time Arsenal were in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals was way back in the 2008/09 season. That year, they made it to the final four but lost out to Manchester United.

Did you get it?

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Real Madrid - Manchester City live online: scores, stats and updates | Champions League

We've got Will Gittins over in a much warmer Madrid taking in the delights of the Bernabéu as Real Madrid take on Manchester City.

Follow the action as it happens...

Quiz time!

Do you know...

When was the last time Arsenal reached the Champions League semi-finals?

BONUS: Who did they lose to? (Hint, they were the losing finalists to a Messi masterclass)

Five minutes until the answers are revealed!

Arsenal's Round of 16 scare

Arsenal, like Bayern, were made to sweat in the previous round and their games, tied at 1-1 on aggregate, went all the way to penalties.

David Raya was the hero on the night at the Emirates as he saved shot after shot from the spot, seeing his side through to the quarter finals.

Arsenal fans making a huge noise!

The home fans are in full voice ahead of kick-off at the Emirates!

JUST OVER HALF AN HOUR TO GO!

Here's a reminder of the two starting XIs:

ARSENAL: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Jorginho, Odegaard, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli

BAYERN: Neuer; Kimmich, Dier, de Ligt, Davies; Goretzka, Laimer; Gnabry, Musiala, Sane; Kane

Nervous, Arsenal fans?

Three of Arsenal's four worst ever defeats in the Champions League have come at the hands of Bayern Munich. 

For a time, it felt like The Gunners were going to face the Germans every single year, with Bayern coming out on top each time. 

A large part of the reason Arsenal haven't reached the quarters since 2010 is due to tonight's opponents, and they have beaten Arsenal 5-1 on the last three occasions.

Here's how Sofascore see the XIs:

The boffins over at Sofascore Towers have put together this handy guide on how they think both sides will line up on the pitch at the Emirates.

It's a 4-3-3 from Arteta and Arsenal while Tuchel has gone with a 4-2-3-1. Of course, things on the pitch become fluid when the whistle blows, but this guide is as good as they come.

Thomas Tuchel pre-game quotes:

BUNDESLIGA

When was the last time Bayern Munich didn’t win the Bundesliga? Have Leverkusen ever won it?

Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen are on the brink of the Bundesliga title after Bayern’s shock defeat to Heidenheim.

The German giants will have to put their domestic woes behind them if they are to get past Arsenal, who are top of the Premier League.

They are on the verge of losing a genuinely historic record if they let the league title slip, but how many consecutive title wins do they have under their belt?

ARSENAL STARTING XI:

Gabriel starts alongside Saliba as Martinelli gets his chance on the wing.

Bayern's Round of 16 confusion

It was a nervy affair for Bayern in the previous round as they stumbled in the first leg away at Lazio, conceding a poor goal and losing 1-0.

They took the loss on aggregate to Germany and smashed their opponents 3-0,momentarily putting the doubters into silence before they returned to their domestic fragility. 

It's been an incredibly strange season for them so far, with nobody looking happy and Tuchel already on his way out. But time after time the star power continues to save them - will it be the same against such a well-drilled Arsenal?

BAYERN XI REVEALED:

Kane starts up front as Neuer makes it back into the XI in a side jam-packed with talent.

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Possible Arsenal starting XI vs. Bayern Munich in Champions League quarter-final

Mikel Arteta’s side are top of the Premier League and have even been tipped by many as ‘dark horses’ to lift the Champions League trophy.

Here's how we think they might line-up ahead of the official confirmation of the team news for the game.

Possible Arsenal XI: David Raya; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Jorginho, Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard; Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesús.

Arsenal arrive at the stadium!

The Gunners have arrived at the Emirates ahead of kick-off. Team news is on the way!

Bayern in black strip

The Bavarians will be wearing their snazzy black kit that boasts a world map pattern on the front.

Adidas say that the design is to acknowledge Bayern fan clubs all around the globe who are united by the club motto: "Mia san Mia" ("We are who we are.")

Who are we to argue?

Have your say!

We've got a live poll up and running which gives you the chance to get involved and make a prediction ahead of kick-off in London.

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Harry Kane’s record against Arsenal: goals, appearances, wins

It just had to be, didn't it?

Harry Kane couldn't stay away from North Londoneven if he tried his mega hardest. The former Spurs man, after leaving in the summer, is already back where it all started, facing Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League.

His record against Arsenal is quite something, too: in his 19 appearances for Spurs against their arch rivals, Kane scored a whopping 14 times. 

Only two clubs - Leicester City and Everton - have conceded more goals to the Englishman than Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta pre-game quotes:

How did Bayern get here: UCL Group stage story

Despite what you may hear, see and feel as the ground rumbles in Bavaria, it's not been entirely doom and gloom and dropped toast for the Germans this season, as they have made it this far in the Champions League. 

In fact, Bayern topped Group A with a near-perfect record of 5 wins from 6, scoring 12 goals on the way. It's true that the 6 goals conceded perhaps showed the shadows of things to come, but they swept past their opponents Copenhagen, Galatasaray and Man Utd in the end.

BAYERN GROUP RESULTS:

Bayern 4-2 Man Utd

Copenhagen 1-2 Bayern

Galatasaray 1-3 Bayern

Bayern 2-1 Galatasaray

Bayern 0-0 Copenhagen

Man Utd 0-1 Bayern

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Who is Glenn Nyberg, the referee for Arsenal vs Bayern in the UCL today?

Sweden’s Glenn Nyberg will referee today’s Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium, as Arsenal look to seal a solid result against Bayern Munich, a team that has given them European nightmares over recent years.

He will be taking charge of his first ever Champions League knockout-stage match. A FIFA-listed referee since 2016, the 35-year-old was handed his debut in Europe’s top elite tournament in 2022/23, and has taken charge of six games in the competition until now.

Mahbod Beigi and Andreas Söderqvist will be the assistant referees at the Emirates.

Adam Ladebäck, also Swedish, will be the fourth official. 

The VAR referee will be the Netherlands’ Pol van Boekel, and fellow Dutchman Dennis Higler will be the assistant VAR.

Arsenal ask fans to wear red in sold-out stadium

"With that additional home advantage in mind and 60,000 Gooners packed into our home, we are urging all our supporters with a ticket to wear something red if they can to help create an incredible spectacle for our players."

The club statement asked their fans to come dressed in red as they look to take full advantage of the home leg being first in the tough tie against their German opponents.

How they got here: Arsenal group stage

The Gunners made it through a tough group that included PSV, Lens and Sevilla, a banana skin of a draw if ever you saw one. They finished top after winning 4, drawing 1 and losing 1, to Lens. 

Not qualifying never looked like a problem for Arteta’s side, who conceded just 4 goals throughout the entire first stage while managing to put 16 past their three opponents.

ARSENAL'S UCL GROUP RESULTS

Arsenal 4-0 PSV

Lens 2-1 Arsenal

Sevilla 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Sevilla

Arsenal 6-0 Lens

PSV 1-1 Arsenal

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Champions and Europa League draw, fixtures: quarterfinals and semifinals | Madrid - City and Barça - PSG

The Champions League draw did not disappoint as it put Europe’s top teams against each other in a series of fascinating fixtures.

The Champions League draw is often like eating birthday cake: the anticipation often outweighs the actual enjoyment. It’s a cream sponge cake right until you take a bite and it’s just dust and air and cheap frosting. 

Anyway, the Champions League drawthis year did exactly the opposite: it gave us four fantastic tie that leave everything open and it all to play for.

You’re a brave and knowledgeable human being if you can predict correctly which four teams will make it to the semi-finals, as they’re about as evenly matched as chance could get.

Bayern injury news:

Tuchel has Aleksandar Pavlovic, Kingsley Coman, Leroy Sané, and Noussair Mazraoui back in the squad.

They were all unavailable for the previous match against Heidenheim, but managed to participate in training.

Manuel Neuer, who missed the last two games due to a muscle tear in his left adductor, also managed to complete training with the German club a day before kick-off. 

Arsenal injury news:

It’s happy days from Mikel Arteta who has welcomed back a few key figures for the game tonight.

Bukayo Saka was shrouded in a cloud of doubt in the days leading up to the game, with his fitness on the lips of fans across the city. However, he seems to have pulledthrough his issues and returned to the starting lineup for Arsenal’s win over Brighton. 

Match sharpness was not an issue as Saka netted a goal to put Arsenal in the lead before being taken off in the 64th minute.

Gabriel had hearts in mouths when he went down against Brighton at the weekend, with the team of physios moving like lightning to get onto the pitch to attend to the Brazil international, who managed to continue and complete the full 90 minutes.

Gabriel has been getting through an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in August. Arteta said that things are looking up and “he’s doing very well. He’s back training, he’s not far off, the thing is that last step, he hasn’t played any minutes”.

Welcome!

Hello and a warm welcome from North London where we’ve got some fantastically exciting Champions League action to get our teeth into.

Arsenal host Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg and I (Joe) have the pleasure of guiding you through the action as it unfolds on the pristine Emirates pitch.

The action will kick-off in around 90 minutes from now.