The Situation
A Champions League night at the Allianz arena awaits an Arsenal side buoyed on by an impressive 4-1 victory over a plucky Everton side at the weekend. Whilst an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley will be something for the club to savour, the none to small matter of facing Europe’s form team and reigning Champions of Europe, Bayern Munich, in their own backyard no less, will no doubt ensure that the minds of the players is geared to a business-as-usual psyche.
The reality of facing a team that is ritualistically demolishing all that is put before them can be a a sobering prospect. And if the thought of facing Europe’s form team isn’t enough to paint the picture of a tall order, the fact that Arsenal trail the Bavarians by two goals to nil from the 1st-leg at the Emirates could run the risk of making the forthcoming encounter seem like an inevitable hiding to nothing!
Of course history tells us that the last time a much unfancied Arsenal side went to play Bayern, they got one over on the Germans, winning by two goals to nil and just narrowly missed out on qualifying for the next round at the expense of an unusually lapse Bayern team who thought they had already dealt with Arsenal in the 1st-leg.
The Decision
With what always promises to be an intense North London derby this coming weekend, Wenger has a decision to make selection wise. Le Boss went on record to say that the Bayern game was not going to effect his selection for the Everton game. He went on to allude to making the point that he fully intends to pick his strongest first eleven available to him against the German on Tuesday night. Arsenal will need to go for the jugular if they have any real intention of getting through to the next round. A tall order and no mistake against the all conquering big red Bavarian machine. Wenger has a choice; With what will very likely be a knock-down-drag-out affair at the weekend in the North London derby, does he start with his main man, Olivier Giroud? Yaya Sanogo has thrown a spanner in the works being ruled out through injury. There is of course the option of giving the very much maligned Dane, Nicklas Bendtner a run-out. Whilst stranger things have happened, Wenger opting to start the big Dane will inevitably raise eyebrows from the Arsenal faithful.
The Verdict
Giroud showed his worth coming off of the bench to score a brace at the weekend. After a fair bit of flack from his own supporters, the Frenchman came up with two “strikers finishes”. Whilst not every Arsenal fan is assured that big Olivier is the man to lead Arsenal to glory, he’s the clubs most potent & effective striker. The other option is giving Nicklas Bendtner the nod. Whilst Saint Nik is not quite as bad as many would have us believe, he’s become something of a pastiche of himself. A man who has always had no problem ‘talking the talk’, but ‘walking the walk’ hasn’t always followed suite!
It goes without saying that Giroud is the senior player. For all his detractors, he’s an experienced pro, with pedigree at Premier & Champions League level. He’s also got previous against Bayern. The negativity surrounding Giroud in recent weeks was a culmination of the man being ran into the ground. Burdened with the responsibility of leading the line for Arsenal and starting pretty much every game. Throw in an alleged affair, exposed by a National (British) newspaper and you’ve got yourself a human being running in the red-zone, both physically and mentally.
The weekends showdown with fierce local rivals Spurs, where points and bragging rights are up for grabs means Wenger will need to bare in mind the importance of managing his squad, which has very predictably accrued injuries in key areas.
Arsenal will need to be at the very peak of their powers to come up trumps in Munich on Tuesday, but they’ll also have to rely on lady luck and potentially for their opponents to have an off day. Starting Bendtner and having Giroud on the bench, much like at the weekend, could well be a prudent and practical move for those more inclined in writing the Bayern game off before a ball has been kicked in anger. Keeping Giroud fresh for the North London derby at the expense of starting against such ferocious opponents is unlikely to ruffle too many feathers. But if Wenger is true to his words in picking the ‘best’ team available, it’s difficult to look past Giroud starting against the Germans, especially with Sanogo being ruled out the night before the game.
Your Verdict
We regularly pose the same question to our @AFCModiOperandi followers and include some replies in our articles – if you are interested in having your comments in our articles, follow our account and reply to our questions marked with #AFCMO. Here’s what you’ve had to say on who should start the game upfront against Bayern Munich.
It’s me @anuskyskippo no brainer….#Giroud
D.J. Kelly @djkellyfrosses I think you need to check the air in your house because something is going to your head if you think Bendtner should play
Battering Ramsey @brod40 Not a bad option. Could be a nice addition if we are looking for a set-piece goal late on.
cathal smith @cathal_smith they should leave Bendtner on the bus for both
@WemblyWithArsenal:) @evenstrongerRKO I think giroud should start tomorrow againt Bayern we need goals in that game from the get go & he got that in him.#AFCMO
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