London: With Nacho Monreal cup-tied, Kieran Gibbs (thigh) injured and Andre Santos loaned out to Gremio last week, Thomas Vermaelen is likely to be utilised at left-back by Arsene Wenger.
Mikel Arteta is still not fully fit after recovering from injury and Wenger is believed to be leaning towards a front trio of Theo Walcott, Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla and axing Olivier Giroud.
Javi Martinez (toe) missed Bayern`s last game against Wolfsburg, but should return for the runaway Bundesliga leaders.
Claudio Pizarro (illness) and Holger Badstuber (knee) will miss out for the visitors, while Jerome Boateng is suspended.
STATS
• Arsenal and Bayern Munich have met four times before in the Champions League, with the Gunners victorious just once.
• Their last meeting was also at the Champions League last-16 stage, which the German side won 3-2 on aggregate in 2004-05.
• Olivier Giroud has four assists in the group stages of the Champions League this season; only Zlatan Ibrahimovic has more with five.
• Lukas Podolski has scored three goals from three shots on target in the Champions League this term. He is 17/2 to score the first goal in the game with BetVictor.
• Bayern Munich had the most different goalscorers in the group stage, with nine.
• The German side also conceded the fewest shots on target in the group stage, with just 17 against.
• The Bavarians last won in England in April 2001, with a 1-0 quarter-final victory over Manchester United on course to winning the tournament.
• Mario Gomez has scored 25 goals in 26 Champions League starts.
Goal.com
First Published: Tuesday, February 19, 2013, 09:20