The Champions League represents the only chance of silverware for the Gunners this season and they will need to score at least three goals to have a chance to qualify.

Arsene Wenger was given a major blow when star midfielder Jack Wilshere was ruled out with an ankle injury. The 21-year-old suffered the injury during Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat at Spurs and is ruled out for up to four weeks now according to Wenger when speaking to the Independent.

Former Bayern Munich player Lukas Podolski also misses out on the chance to impress, following an ankle problem and Bacary Sagna is another absentee with you guessed it yet another ankle problem.

Wenger has also controversially left out their first choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, with Lukasz Fabianski returning to the squad. Wenger believes Szczesny is mentally tired and needs a rest but what is puzzling for Arsenal fans is why Wenger would rest their first choice keeper for arguably their most important match of the season.

Nacho Monreal is ineligible but Kieran Gibbs returns to the squad after spending six weeks on the sidelines with a thigh strain.

Bayern have been formidable at home this season and have won all three of their home games at the Allianz Arena. They have also won their last nine matches in all competitions but will be without Schweinsteiger and Boateng, who are both suspended and the injured duo of Ribery and Badstuber.

With Sagna, Wilshere and Podolski out, Wenger seems to have already thrown in the towel by resting Szczesny. However, with Bayern missing some big players, Arsenal do stand a slim chance of progressing through. Maybe forgotten men Gervinho and Arshavin might not only appear on the field but could even contribute to the scoresheet – anything is possible!

Arsenal’s 18-man squad: Fabianski, Mannone, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Coquelin, Ramsey, Diaby, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, Cazorla, Walcott, Giroud, Gervinho, Arshavin.