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With English side Arsenal entertaining Bayern Munich at the Arsenal stadium tonight (UEFA does not permit commercial names in their competitions when it comes to stadia), there are five key one-on-ones that could influence the outcome of the first leg between the Londoners and their German counterparts in the Round of 16.
1.) Jack Wilshere vs Javi Martinez
There is no doubt now that Jack Wilshere is the future of Arsenal Football Club. Apparently being groomed for captaincy by Arsene Wenger, Wilshere is the dynamo of the current Arsenal outfit and his incisive dribbling and great presence has been the source of ammunition for many an Arsenal goal lately.
But against the German giants tonight, he will go toe-to-toe with Javi Martinez. The Bavarian giants’ most expensive signing ever at 40 million Euros, Martinez may have missed his team’s league game against Wolfsburg over the weekend with a bruised toe, but manager Jupp Heynckes was happy to see him return to training.
The Euro 2012 winner has been a very important part of a Bayern side that has lost just once in their last 22 Bundesliga outings and conceded only seven goals in the process. Martinez will be hoping to take that form into Europe as well.
2.) Lukas Podolski vs Philip Lahm
Poland-born Podolski has endeared himself as a fan favourite to the Arsenal faithful with his impressive performances on the field and his activities to help him fit into the city of London off it. With 12 goals in 28 starts (three from five in Europe) and nine Premier League assists to his name, Podolski is a deadly weapon to have on the wing, having formed an understanding with fellow new signings Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla and fellow attacker Theo Walcott.
But coming up against him will be one of Bayern’s best right-backs ever. Captain Philip Lahm was a team mate of Podolski when the latter moved to Munich after the 2006 FIFA World Cup but he will have to shelve old friendships as he tries to blunt his fellow countryman’s attempt to influence the game’s proceedings.
3.) Franck Ribery vs Bacary Sagna
In the game’s second international match-up, two of their respective sides’ most experienced players – and their international team – go head to head as they try to give their side the edge in this game. Franck Ribery is one of the deadliest players in Germany at the moment.
With five goals (one in Europe) and seven Bundesliga assists this season, the man hailed as the “jewel of French football” by legendary midfielder Zinedine Zidane is one of the first names on Jupp Heynckes’s team sheet.
The 29-year-old wide man usually starts on the right, but does drift to the left very often and is equally comfortable playing there. Up against him when he is on the left will be Bacary Sagna. Now one of Arsenal’s most experienced campaigners, Ribery’s international team mate turned 30 on Valentine’s Day and will be hoping to nullify the man with whom he has pulled on a Bleu shirt many a time.
An interesting battle between the two is surely set to take place today evening.
4.) Arjen Robben vs Thomas Vermaelen
Franck Ribery is an explosive player, but he is only half of the firepower Bayern possess on the wings, with Dutchman Arjen Robben occupying the other flank. He may have only four goals in all competitions for die Roten and just one solitary assist in the Bundesliga (with another in Europe), but his statistics belittle the talents he possesses.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup finalist has more often than not played a key role in his side’s incredible run that has seen them amass a whopping 51 points in the Bundesliga, making them the runaway leaders at this stage.
But the former PSV Eindhoven man will be rekindling old rivalries when he comes up against ex-Ajax Amsterdam defender Thomas Vermaelen. With new signing Nacho Monreal ineligible to play in Europe because of his earlier commitments with Malaga and Kieran Gibbs still out with a thigh strain, the Gunners skipper will most likely play at left-back tonight.
He will also be hoping his inconsistent form this season doesn’t return as Arsenal try to get a positive result out of their home leg.
5.) Mario Mandzukic vs Per Mertesacker
Bayern’s top scorer Mario Mandzukic is yet to ripple a Champions League net this season, but his eighteen goals in all competitions for his new club since arriving from Wolfsburg over the summer speak volumes of the quality he possesses. Having missed a penalty against Valencia in Munich in the Group Stages, the Croatia international will be hoping he can get his first European goal for his side in London.
But he will be pitted against one of Arsenal’s most consistent defenders. German giant Per Mertesacker has plenty of experience playing against Mandzukic when he was in the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen and will be the man Arsenal look to when it comes to shackling the 26-year-old striker.
With the ability to read the game very well, Mertesacker will have to be in top form to stop Mandzukic from scoring his 19th goal in a Bayern shirt.
