Arsenal are set to face Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash at the Emirates Stadium tonight.
The Gunners have reached this stage of the Champions League for the first time since 2010, and will be aiming for revenge against Bayern Munich, given the humiliating defeats they have suffered at the hands of the German giants in the past.
This is Mikel Arteta’s first Champions League campaign as a manager, and he has reached the quarters at the first time of asking, with Arsenal beating Porto on penalties in the round of 16.
The home side are the favourites given Bayern Munich’s poor form this season, but they still carry many threats including former Arsenal prodigy Serge Gnabry.
Arteta has pretty much an entire squad to pick from after several players returned from injury, but there is still some worry at both clubs ahead of the second leg with regard to suspensions.
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Arsenal and Bayern Munich players face yellow card suspensions
Arsenal will be wary over midfielder Declan Rice and attacker Kai Havertz, as both players are one yellow card away from missing the second leg of the tie next week.
Rice picked up yellow cards at home against Sevilla in the group stage, and away in Porto in the first leg of the round of 16, and if he picks up another one today, he will miss the trip to Munich.
Havertz was booked in both legs of the Porto tie, and like Rice, if he picks up another one, he will miss a return to Germany.He also found himself in suspension danger after receiving eight yellow cards in the Premier League, but avoided a booking against Brighton ahead of the reset after the next gameweek.
For Bayern, midfielder Leon Goretzka and left-back Alphonso Davies are both one booking away from missing the second leg.
Goretzka, a German International powerhouse midfielder, was booked in both group-stage games against Manchester United, whilst Davies was carded in both matches against Galatasaray.
Arsenal and Bayern stars will only have to worry in the first leg
Rice and Havertz will go into tonight wary of their potential yellow card suspensions, but know that if they get through the 90 minutes without receiving a card, they will be able to play in Munich without any concern at all.
There is a reprieve for yellow card suspensions after the quarter-finals, meaning that if any of these four players are carded in Munich next week, they will still be able to play in the semi-finals should their team qualify.
Arsenal play host tonight before a trip to Munich next week, in between crucial fixtures in the title race, and they will hope to maximise their squad availability throughout.