Arsenal vs Bayern: A Chance for Gunners Redemption orchestrated by Mikel Arteta

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The journey of Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League has been a topic of much discussion and analysis.

The young brigade of Arsenal have made giant strides and their Champions League journey now takes a pivotal turn as they travel to Munich with redemption in mind in the 2nd leg of the quarterfinal on Wednesday.

Bayern Munich vs Arsenal: A Redemption loading at the Allianz Arena?

Arsenal showed their mettle in the 1st leg, coming back from behind to secure a 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium. Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard scored the goals and they looked the better of the two teams, and it was only two uncharacteristic defensive mistakes which led to two Bayern goals.

After a stalemate at the Emirates Stadium, the expectations are that Arsenal will get the job done in Munich. It was a contentious affair which has been contrary to the past few occasions when the Gunners have made the Bavarians. In the 2015-16 season, Arsenal were beaten 1-5 at the Allianz Arena and the score line was the same when the Gunners met them in the last 16 of the Champions League a couple of seasons later.

The 10-2 aggregate defeat is still vivid in all the Arsenal fans' memories back in the Arsene Wenger days. But this Arsenal team is different. The introduction of Mikel Arteta has been a revelation at the North London club as they look to reach loftier heights.

It hasn't been a happy ground for the gunners over the past years. But they have got a victory and a draw in the last four visits to the Munich stadium. And with Arteta at the helm, the Gunners faithful are more optimistic than before.

Arsenal Last Four Results at Munich

Bayern 5-1 Arsenal (2016-17, Last 16)

Bayern 5-1 Arsenal (2014-15, GS)

Bayern 1-1 Arsenal (2013-14, Last 16)

Bayern 0-2 Arsenal (2012-13, Last 16)

The Arteta Magic at Arsenal

Mikel Arteta, who took charge of the team after the departure of Unai Emery, has been instrumental in reshaping Arsenal's approach to their games, focusing on a strategy that emphasizes control, possession, and flexibility.

The Mindset: A few key strategies have marked Arteta's approach at Arsenal. Firstly, he has instilled a higher degree of possession football, ensuring that Arsenal controls the tempo of the game. This change has not only allowed Arsenal to dictate play but also to minimize the opponent's opportunities to attack. Arteta's focus on flexibility has also been crucial, with players adapting to multiple positions and roles as the game demands. This adaptability has made Arsenal unpredictable and difficult to plan against.

The Defensive Revamp: The defensive structure under Arteta has seen radical improvements as well. Arsenal's defense, which was once considered a weak link, has become more robust and organized. By focusing on a disciplined back line and emphasizing the importance of defensive duties across the team, Arteta has managed to reduce the number of goals conceded significantly.

The Youth Exuberance: Moreover, Arteta has placed a strong emphasis on youth development, integrating young talents into the first team. The likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard, William Saliba - the young nucleus of the Gunners have been the driving force as they have made their upsurge in the last two seasons.

Arsenal have shown resilience, technical superiority, and a competitive edge that has been missing in previous campaigns. The improvement in their Champions League performance is a clear indicator of their improvement and a Munich redemption would be a perfect display of their progress.