Rio Ferdinand regards Bayern Munich as the team more likely to advance in the Champions League, potentially eliminating Arsenal during the upcoming quarter-final return leg in Germany.
Arsenal, who are vying for the Premier League title, will be heading to Munich this Wednesday evening with aspirations of reaching the semi-finals for the first time since 2009.
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Despite a 2-2 draw in the initial leg at their home ground in London, Arsenal’s morale might be compromised following a defeat by Aston Villa over the weekend.
While Bayern secured a victory against Koln on Saturday, they witnessed the end of their Bundesliga supremacy as Bayer Leverkusen secured their inaugural league championship with five matches remaining.
For the first time since 2011, Bayern Munich has not clinched the Bundesliga title. Nonetheless, Ferdinand still considers Thomas Tuchel’s squad the frontrunners in their impending Champions League encounter with Arsenal.
The triumphant team of this quarter-final will go on to compete against either the current Champions League titleholders Manchester City or the historically successful Real Madrid in the semi-finals.
‘I think it’s advantage Bayern Munich,’ Ferdinand, who won the Champions League with Man United in 2008, said on his YouTube channel. ‘Bayern are at home and have all that experience in Europe.
‘Arsenal could win but it’s advantage Bayern for me. Can you imagine if [ex-Tottenham captain] Harry Kane knocks them out of Europe?
‘The biggest game of Arsenal’s season is on Wednesday night. If they lose that game, this team will never have been that low under Mikel Arteta.
‘To have a week like this, where you were in control, to then lose control in the league and then you’re out of the Champions League… I would worry for Arsenal at that point.’
Expectations were high for Arsenal to prevail over Bayern at their home ground, the Emirates Stadium, especially with Bayern’s recent Bundesliga challenges.
Bukayo Saka quickly put Arsenal in the lead with a sharp goal at the 12-minute mark, but Bayern Munich responded with goals from their former player Serge Gnabry and the ex-Tottenham forward Harry Kane.
Substitute Leandro Trossard leveled the score with an equalizer in the 76th minute, setting the stage for an intense second leg in Munich.
Arsenal continues their quest for their inaugural Champions League title, while Bayern Munich boasts a history of six victories, including their latest triumph in 2020.
