Back Bayern to put the sword into Gunners in Champions League tie

Bayern have won four out of their last six against Arsenal, and the reigning Champions League champions look a certainty to progress to the quarter-finals (1/50) following their 2-0 away first leg win in the tie.

The competition favourites (2/1) go into this match at the Allianz Arena in superb form, and are currently on a run of 49 games undefeated in the Bundesliga (with 16 consecutive victories), and have not been beaten at home in the league since October 28th 2012. Back Bayern at 3/10 to win in 90 minutes.

However, two recent home losses do stand out, most notably last season’s 2-0 loss to the Gunners in the exact fixture (Champions League last 16 second leg), and Arsene Wenger’s side have enticing odds of 100/1 for the same result to force this tie into extra time. Arsenal are 20/1 to somehow qualify to the quarters.

The Gunners go into this tie on the back of a confidence-boosting 4-1 defeat of Everton in the FA Cup. But, with their Premier League hopes slipping (now 22/1 to win), their focus could now rest solely on the domestic knockout competition, as they look to get their first piece of silverware since 2005.

With only Championship side Wigan in the semis, and Hull City or Sheffield United in their way, surely Wenger would not risk giving it his all in the Champions League or Premier League. They are odds-on favourites at 4/9 to win the FA Cup.

However, Arsenal will not go out of Europe’s elite competition without a fight, and have the likes of resurgent forward Olivier Giroud (four goals in his last three games in all competitions) among their ranks. The Frenchman found the net in this fixture last year and has fantastic odds of 7/2 to score again anytime.

Lukas Podolski certainly knows the opponents well, having played for and against them regularly in his Bundesliga days. The German’s record against Bayern is not great, with three goals in 11 games, but he did put one past them in Arsenal’s home tie last year. Back him at 5/1 in the anytime scorer market.

Wenger has strongly hinted that his record £42m signing Mesut Ozil will face Munich, and has backed him to make amends for his first leg penalty shocker. Although the former Real Madrid player has lost seven out of 12 games against them (winning once), he has scored three and made three assists. He has odds of 6/1 for a goal.