Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich: What must Arsenal do to progress in the Champions League?

We take a look whether Arsenal can afford to lose to Bayern Munich

Simon Rice
Tuesday 20 October 2015 12:34 BST
Comments
Theo Walcott and Per Mertesacker
Theo Walcott and Per Mertesacker (GETTY IMAGES)

Arsenal face back-to-back Champions League games against Bayern Munich, a pair of fixtures made all the more daunting due to the Gunners' horrendous start in Europe this season.

Arsenal slipped to a shock 3-2 defeat to Olympiakos last time out, making it two defeats from two in the Champions League this season.

Having progressed from the group stage for the past 15 years in succession, Arsene Wenger's side are in serious danger of failing to do so this term.

In Bayern Munich, they face Europe's in-form side and few are backing them to fare well. But could Arsenal lose their games to Pep Guardiola's team and still progress? We take a look at the possible permutations...

Current table...

Bayern Munich 6

Olympiakos 3

Dinamo Zagreb 3

Arsenal 0

If Arsenal were to lose their two games against Bayern Munich, they would remain on zero points, the German side would be on 12 and out of reach. In the meantime, the other two sides would have met twice. Should either Olympiakos or Dinamo Zagreb triumph in both meetings, Arsenal's hopes of progress would be over.

Potential table after four games...

Bayern Munich 12

Olympiakos 9

Dinamo Zagreb 3

Arsenal 0

(Getty Images)

If Arsenal lost both games to Bayern and Olympiakos and Dinamo Zagreb exchanged wins then the only hope for the Gunners would be to win their final two games and hope Bayern Munich - who at that stage would have little to play for having already qualified - go on to have a 100 per cent record in the group. The Gunners could then end the group on equal points to Olympiakos and Dinamo Zagreb, but would need a superior goal difference.

Potential table after four games...

Bayern Munich 12

Olympiakos 6

Dinamo Zagreb 6

Arsenal 0

Alexis Sanchez with Arsene Wenger (GETTY IMAGES)

If Arsenal were to lose both their games to Bayern, the best scenario would be for Olympiakos and Dinamo Zagreb to draw both their meetings. This would allow for either of them picking up a draw in their matches with Bayern Munich and Arsenal still to progress, as long as Wenger's side win their final two games.

Potential table after four games...

Bayern Munich 12

Olympiakos 5

Dinamo Zagreb 5

Arsenal 0

A win and a draw for one of Olympiakos or Dinamo Zagreb with Arsenal losing both matches to Bayern Munich would spell curtains for the Gunners.

Potential table after four games...

Bayern Munich 12

Olympiakos 7

Dinamo Zagreb 4

Arsenal 0

Arsenal's best hope is to pick up points in their games against the German champions and with it keep in touching distance of Olympiakos and Dinamo Zagreb. Whilst the current form of Pep Guardiola's side is frighteningly good, the Gunners did manage a 1-1 draw in their most recent meeting and beat them 2-0 at the Allianz Arena in 2013, suggesting they're capable of getting a result.

The last team to progress after losing their first two group matches were Galatasaray in 2012/13. Just nine sides have done it in the competition's history.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in