Bayern Munich host Arsenal at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, in Matchday 3 of the UEFA Champions League league phase. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:00pm CEST, or 8:00pm BST.
Both clubs remain unbeaten in this season's Champions League. Arsenal have the stronger record with six points after beating Napoli 1-0 away and Lille 3-0 at home without conceding. Bayern opened with a 5-0 victory over Bodø/Glimt before recovering from 2-0 down to draw 3-3 at Viking FK.
Domestic form is also strong. Bayern moved top of the Bundesliga after Saturday's emphatic 6-1 victory over RB Leipzig, taking 14 points from six matches. Arsenal are second in the Premier League on 18 points after substitute Noni Madueke scored the only goal in Sunday's 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest.
Head-to-Head Summary
Bayern have the stronger overall European record against Arsenal. UEFA lists 15 previous meetings, with Bayern recording eight wins, Arsenal four and three matches ending level. Bayern have scored 31 goals compared with Arsenal's 18.
The immediate trend, however, provides Arsenal with encouragement. Arteta's team won the most recent meeting 3-1 at the Emirates in November 2025, ending a five-match winless sequence against Bayern. Jurriën Timber opened the scoring before Lennart Karl equalised, with Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli deciding the match during the second half.
Bayern remain significantly stronger at home in this rivalry. Their most recent Allianz Arena meeting ended in a 1-0 victory in April 2024, when Joshua Kimmich scored the goal that sent Bayern into the Champions League semi-finals.
Last 10 Meetings
November 26, 2025 — Champions League: Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich
April 17, 2024 — Champions League: Bayern Munich 1-0 Arsenal
April 9, 2024 — Champions League: Arsenal 2-2 Bayern Munich
March 7, 2017 — Champions League: Arsenal 1-5 Bayern Munich
February 15, 2017 — Champions League: Bayern Munich 5-1 Arsenal
November 4, 2015 — Champions League: Bayern Munich 5-1 Arsenal
October 20, 2015 — Champions League: Arsenal 2-0 Bayern Munich
March 11, 2014 — Champions League: Bayern Munich 1-1 Arsenal
February 19, 2014 — Champions League: Arsenal 0-2 Bayern Munich
March 13, 2013 — Champions League: Bayern Munich 0-2 Arsenal
Across those 10 meetings, Bayern have five wins, Arsenal three and two have ended level. Bayern have also scored 22 goals to Arsenal's 13, although the Gunners won the latest encounter.
Bayern Munich Current Form
Bayern's last five competitive matches have produced three wins and two draws. They beat Union Berlin 7-0, drew 2-2 at Augsburg, drew 3-3 with Viking, then responded with a dominant 6-1 victory over Leipzig. Their earlier 5-0 Champions League win over Bodø/Glimt also underlines the scale of their attacking threat.
The Leipzig performance was Bayern at their most destructive. Luis Díaz scored a hat-trick and added an assist, while Aleksandar Pavlović, Michael Olise and Harry Kane also found the net. Bayern registered 29 shots, 17 on target and 48 touches inside Leipzig's penalty area.
Their league numbers are outstanding. Bayern lead the Bundesliga with 14 points from six matches, scoring 22 goals and conceding only five. They are level with Borussia Dortmund on points but hold a significantly stronger goal difference.
The main warning comes from the two matches before Leipzig. Bayern conceded twice at Augsburg and three times against Viking, showing that their aggressive attacking structure can still leave opportunities when opponents escape the first press.
Arsenal Current Form
Arsenal's last five competitive matches have produced four wins and one defeat. They beat Sunderland 2-0, lost 3-0 at Brighton, defeated Leeds 2-1, beat Lille 3-0 and then won 1-0 at Nottingham Forest.
That sequence has produced eight goals scored and four conceded, with all four wins containing strong defensive periods. Arsenal have also kept clean sheets in both Champions League matches this season.
The 3-0 victory over Lille was another example of Arsenal improving as a match developed. Timber opened the scoring after halftime before substitutes Saka and Martin Ødegaard helped change the tempo, with Eberechi Eze and Saka completing the scoring.
Their win at Forest was less spectacular but potentially just as important. Arsenal created only one shot on target but stayed patient until Madueke's late deflected effort secured three points. Eight of Arsenal's 11 Premier League goals this season have now arrived after halftime.
Arsenal sit second in the Premier League with 18 points from seven matches, three behind Manchester City. They have conceded only five league goals, matching Brighton for the best defensive record in the division.
Bayern Munich Team News and Injuries
Michael Olise is confirmed unavailable through suspension. The winger was sent off for two bookable offences during the 3-3 draw at Viking and must therefore miss the Arsenal match. Bayern's own statistical preview confirms his suspension.
That is a significant attacking absence. Olise has registered the most shot assists of any Champions League player since the beginning of last season and had also contributed two goals and an assist across Bayern's first two European matches this season.
Jamal Musiala remains another major fitness concern. He suffered a torn muscle fibre in his right thigh while with Germany and has been working individually during his rehabilitation. He missed the Viking and Leipzig matches, and Bayern have not yet confirmed that he is ready to return against Arsenal.
Manuel Neuer also requires assessment after a foot problem. Jonas Urbig started against both Viking and Leipzig, while Neuer was available on the bench in Norway. Bayern's final pre-match update should clarify whether the veteran goalkeeper is ready to return.
Arsenal Team News and Injuries
Piero Hincapié is unlikely to be available. The defender injured his ankle during a post-match training session following the Leeds victory, and Arteta said on Friday that he would probably require another week or two before returning.
William Saliba also remains sidelined with the back problem that has kept him out since the summer, while Christos Tzolis is recovering from a hamstring injury sustained on international duty. Neither was expected back in time for the Bayern trip based on Arsenal's latest medical update.
Martin Zubimendi is much closer to returning. Arteta said before the Forest match that the midfielder had improved significantly from his ankle problem and was being assessed for a return. His status for Munich should become clearer after Arsenal's final training session.
Arsenal still have significant depth. Gabriel, Ezri Konsa, Timber, Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori provide defensive options, while Declan Rice, Ødegaard, Eze, Saka, Madueke and Kai Havertz give Arteta several attacking combinations.
Tactical Match Analysis
Bayern's ability to press immediately after losing possession could become one of the defining tactical factors. Against Leipzig, Kompany's team repeatedly recovered the ball high and attacked before their opponent could reorganise. Kimmich and Pavlović controlled midfield while Díaz and Olise stretched the defensive line.
Olise's suspension changes that structure. Kompany could use Serge Gnabry, Lennart Karl or another attacking midfielder on the right, but none offers exactly the same combination of creativity, ball carrying and chance creation.
Díaz therefore becomes even more important. His hat-trick against Leipzig came from aggressive movement on the left, and his speed can test Arsenal's right side whenever Bayern move possession quickly across the pitch.
Kane remains the central reference point but contributes far beyond finishing. His ability to drop into midfield was central to Bayern's transition play against Leipzig, and he already has 15 goals in 22 career appearances against Arsenal.
Arsenal's defensive structure may be better suited to this challenge than Leipzig's was. Arteta's side are comfortable spending periods without the ball and have already kept clean sheets away to Napoli and at Nottingham Forest. Rice, Gabriel and Arsenal's full-backs will need to control the spaces Kane creates when he moves away from the centre-backs.
The visitors can also threaten Bayern in transition. Saka against Bayern's left side is an obvious matchup, while Madueke and Eze can attack the spaces created when Bayern's full-backs move forward. Arsenal punished Bayern through transitions in last season's 3-1 victory, including Martinelli's late goal after Manuel Neuer advanced from his goal.
Set pieces could be another major Arsenal weapon. Timber scored from Saka's corner in last season's meeting, and Arteta's team continue to possess strong aerial options through Gabriel, Konsa, Rice and Havertz.
Key Players to Watch
Harry Kane
Kane enters the fixture in excellent form. He scored against Leipzig in his 100th Bundesliga appearance, taking his total to 102 goals in those first 100 league matches. He also scored twice against Viking and has now found the net in nine consecutive Champions League games.
His history against Arsenal is equally significant. Kane has 15 goals from 22 competitive appearances against the Gunners, making him the obvious attacking reference for Bayern.
Luis Díaz
Díaz produced three goals and an assist against Leipzig and was directly involved in four Bundesliga goals in a match for the first time. His 23 sprints were also the highest total of any player on the pitch.
With Olise suspended, Bayern may depend even more heavily on Díaz to provide direct running and individual creativity from wide areas.
Bukayo Saka
Saka remains Arsenal's most established attacking threat. His delivery created Timber's opener when these sides met last season, while he scored after coming from the bench against Lille last week.
Bayern's aggressive full-back positioning could provide him with transition opportunities. Arsenal will look to release him quickly whenever they recover possession.
Declan Rice
Rice will be critical to Arsenal's ability to survive Bayern's pressure. He must help protect the central space around Kane while also carrying possession forward when Arsenal break the press.
His physical presence will also matter at set pieces, an area where Arsenal could create some of their best opportunities if Bayern dominate open-play possession.
What the Numbers Tell Us
Bayern lead the overall UEFA head-to-head with eight victories to Arsenal's four, with three draws.
Across the last 10 meetings, Bayern have five wins, Arsenal three and two have ended level.
Arsenal won the most recent meeting 3-1 in November 2025, ending Bayern's five-match unbeaten run against them.
Arsenal have six Champions League points from two matches and have not conceded. Bayern have four points after beating Bodø/Glimt 5-0 and drawing 3-3 at Viking.
Bayern lead the Bundesliga with 14 points from six matches, scoring 22 goals and conceding five.
Arsenal are second in the Premier League with 18 points from seven matches and have also conceded only five league goals.
Bayern have lost only one of their last 31 Champions League home matches and are unbeaten in their last eight European home games.
The numbers create a fascinating contrast. Arsenal have the better Champions League start and stronger defensive record, while Bayern have the historical advantage, home record and significantly greater domestic attacking output.
Who Has the Statistical Edge?
Bayern have a slight statistical edge because the match is being played at the Allianz Arena.
Their home European record is extremely strong, and Saturday's 6-1 victory over Leipzig demonstrated the attacking ceiling of Kompany's team. Bayern have already scored 22 Bundesliga goals in six matches and five against Bodø/Glimt in their opening Champions League fixture.
Arsenal's case is equally compelling. They have won both European matches without conceding, sit second in the Premier League and defeated Bayern 3-1 in their most recent meeting. Their ability to defend compactly and attack quickly could make them particularly dangerous against Bayern's aggressive structure.
Olise's suspension and Musiala's injury reduce Bayern's attacking options, while Arsenal travel without several defenders of their own. Those absences make the matchup more balanced than the historical head-to-head record suggests.
A draw is highly realistic. Bayern's home advantage gives them the narrow statistical edge, but Arsenal's defence, transition threat and recent record mean there is no clear favourite.
Conclusion
Bayern Munich vs Arsenal is one of Matchday 3's strongest fixtures, bringing together the Bundesliga leaders and the defending Premier League champions. Bayern enter after destroying Leipzig 6-1, while Arsenal have won three consecutive matches without conceding since returning from the international break.
Bayern hold the historical advantage with eight wins from 15 UEFA meetings and have lost only one of their last 31 Champions League home matches. Arsenal, however, won the latest encounter 3-1 and have started this European campaign with victories over Napoli and Lille without allowing a goal.
Team availability could be decisive. Bayern are without the suspended Olise and remain uncertain over Musiala and Neuer, while Arsenal are expected to miss Saliba, Hincapié and Tzolis. Kane and Díaz give Bayern enormous attacking threat, but Saka, Rice and Arsenal's defensive structure provide a credible response. Home advantage gives Bayern a slight statistical edge, although a draw remains a very realistic outcome.