Arsenal earned a massive morale boosting victory over Liverpool in the English FA Cup over the weekend and they will look to take their confidence from that match into Wednesday night's opening leg of their UEFA Champions League tie with defending Champions Bayern Munich.
The return of Mathieu Flamini to the side sees Mikel Arteta miss the opening match against Bayern due to suspension from the Group Stage. Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey also remain sidelined due to injury as well as Thomas Vermaelen.
Santi Cazorla, Olivier Giroud, Kieran Gibbs, Wojciech Szczesny and Bacary Sagna will all return to the starting lineup well rested after having been able to skip the weekend match with Liverpool. Tomas Rosicky could also return on the wing as Jack Wilshere will likely be moved to a deeper central role in the place of the suspended Arteta.
Bayern Munich also have their list of injured absentees as Franck Ribery, Holger Badstuber and most recent loss Xherdan Shaqiri are all set to be off the team sheet.
Philipp Lahm is expected to move into his recently acquired defensive midfield role under Pep Guardiola while Mario Mandzukic is likely to return after missing the weekend Bundesliga match due to suspension.
Along with Manchester City hosting Barcelona, this is the most anticipated match of the opening week of Knockout Stage action and it is certain to be an interesting display on show at the Emirates this midweek.
Arsenal XI: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Wilshere, Flamini; Rosicky, Ozil, Cazorla; Giroud.
Bayern XI: Neuer; Rafinha, Boateng, Dante, Alaba; Lahm; Muller, Kroos, Schweinsteiger, Robben; Mandzukic.
