Jakub Kiwior returns, Gabriel Martinelli decision - Arsenal line ups vs Bayern Munich

Having moved up to the summit of the Premier League over the weekend, Arsenal can now turn their attention back to their Champions League campaign with the first leg of their quarter-final with Bayern Munich.

You would have been straightjacketed for saying this the last time the pair met in 2017, but the Gunners are probably favourites for this tie. While Mikel Arteta's men have won 10 of their last 11 matches in the league, Bayern have lost their lost two to Borussia Dortmund and Heidenheim essentially handing Bayer Leverkusen the league title.

With a title race still very much on the agenda, Arteta has a tricky balancing act to manage. Luckily for him football.london's Arsenal writers are on hand to help. Here's how they would line the Gunners up.

Kaya Kaynak - Chief Arsenal correspondent

If I were Mikel Arteta I'd be looking to make the back four as solid as possible. Oleksandr Zinchenko didn't convince me he would be able to give Arsenal that with his display against Brighton at the weekend so I'm bringing Takehiro Tomiyasu in.

The Japan international is the best one-vs-one defender in the squad and is available after making it through open training. He could handle the threat of Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman or Serge Gnabry.

In midfield I'm opting for a bit more control. I think Jorginho's experience is a must and Declan Rice will be keen to prove himself against one of the many clubs that wanted to buy him last summer.

Up front meanwhile I think you have to play Gabriel Jesus on a night like this for his knowhow. The Brazilian just about edges Gabriel Martinelli with Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka undroppable right now.

Kaynak's Arsenal XI vs Bayern Munich - Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Jesus.

Sam Truelove - Content editor

Arsenal will play their first Champions League quarter-final for 14 years on Tuesday night and it's vital Mikel Arteta gets his team selection right. Opponents Bayern Munich look well off the pace at the moment but with the likes of Harry Kane, Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry in their ranks they will be a tough challenge to overcome over two legs.

David Raya has to start in goal, while William Saliba and Gabriel have been nothing short of sensational in 2024 and will once again occupy the centre-back roles. Ben White has been equally as impressive at right-back, while there could be a potential change at left-back. For me Oleksandr Zinchenko has been below par in his last few outings and Jakub Kiwior will offer much more security if he starts. The Polish international has come on leaps and bounds this season and should start against Bayern.

Now, the midfield. Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice will definitely start and it probably comes down to that third spot. For me, I would play Jorginho in there. He is a man for the big occasions and will offer the Gunners some much-needed calmness. Arteta appears to trust the Italian in big games, too.

I'd play Kai Havertz in the No.9 role as he has shown great goalscoring form in recent weeks, while Bukayo Saka starts on his right. On the left it's a little bit more tricky but I would resist the temptation to start Gabriel Martinelli and go for Gabriel Jesus instead. The former Manchester City man loves a goal in the Champions League after all.

Truelove's XI Arsenal XI vs Bayern Munich - Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Jesus.

Joe Doyle - Content editor

The Brighton display was just the tonic for the Gunners ahead of a huge game against Bayern Munich, giving Mikel Arteta the chance to rest some key men after the hour mark.

In truth, I think there's only one or two areas where there's even a debate about who starts - underlining just how strong the starting XI have been over the last few months.

Raya starts in goal, with White at right-back and a centre-back pairing of Saliba and Gabriel. At left-back, there's a slight chance of some debate, but for me Kiwior starts. Tomiyasu being back is a boost, but with Arteta's tweaks to the system Kiwior has slotted in admirably over recent weeks.

In midfield, there is a choice over whether Partey starts. But for me, Jorginho plays alongside Rice and Odegaard. They've formed a really good partnership across the middle, finely balanced and allowing plenty of protection and dominance of the ball, the Man City game aside.

In attack, Gabriel Jesus offers a dilemma for Arteta. But based on recent form, it's Saka, Martinelli and Havertz starting.

Doyle's Arsenal XI vs Bayern Munich: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Martinelli, Havertz.

Tom Canton - Football writer

The biggest game requires the best team, period. Now, back at the start of the season that might have seen a place for Thomas Partey and come the end of the campaign (who knows… a Champions League final?) it might indeed include the Ghanaian but for now Jorginho is the one in that midfield alongside Declan Rice and he and Martin Odegaard start together.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka start together in a front three designed to rip the Bayern Munich defence to shreds. Martinelli is now fit and ready to start and he will give whoever starts on the German side’s right-hand side a torrid time.

Into defence and David Raya of course will be the foundation behind the back four. Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba and Benjamin White pick themselves and how good it is to be going into a tie with Bayern knowing it is not Shkodran Mustafi, Hector Bellerin, Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal instead – there are some good players there but this Gunners back line is a level above.

At left-back is where the choice of one of three players presents itself. Oleksandr Zinchenko started the last two games in which the side kept clean sheets but Jakub Kiwior who came on at 1-1 against Liverpool and started the 0-0 with Manchester City has surely earned the right to play this key fixture.

Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Bayern – Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli