Vermaelen To Start? How Arsenal Should Line Up Against Bayern Tonight

Arsenal face the near-impossible tonight. The Gunners travel to Germany to take on reigning Champions League holders Bayern Munich, who are unbeaten this season, with a thin squad, and a two goal deficit. Even the most ardent Gooner will have huge doubts over progression. If you were Arsene Wenger, how would you set up your team?

The only way that I see a team beating the Bavarians is on the counter-attack, so I think pace is a must this evening.

In a 4-2-3-1 formation I would have Lukas Fabianski in goal, as Wojciech Szczesny is suspended from the first leg, and I would have Bacary Sagna on the right of the back four.

The central pairing of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny will surely continue, while Thomas Vermaelen would be my pick of the left as both Nacho Monreal and Kieran Gibbs are both unavailable.

Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini would be the pairing to sit in front of that back four, for me, as choice is limited in that department right now, with Mesut Ozil sitting in the hole just behind the striker.

Santi Cazorla would be on the left for me, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain took the right berth, and I would deploy Olivier Giroud up top for the nippier players to play off.