Arsenal welcome Bayern Munich to the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

Arsene Wenger is likely to play Thomas Vermaelen at left-back, with Nacho Monreal cup-tied and Kieran Gibbs injured.

That would mean a return to the starting 11 for Per Mertesacker, who missed Saturday's FA Cup defeat to Blackburn Rovers.

Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla and Theo Walcott started that game on the bench, but all are expected to be recalled for Tuesday's match, as are Lukas Podolski and Bacary Sagna.

Bayern welcome back Javi Martinez, who sat out their match against Wolfsburg with a bruised toe. They will be without Claudio Pizarro, Jerome Boateng and Holger Badstuber though.

Last year's beaten finalists are currently 12 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and have only lost twice in all competitions this season.

Recent form

Arsenal: LWWDWW

Bayern Munich: WWWWWD

Possible lineups

Arsenal: Szczesney; Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen; Ramsey, Wilshere, Cazorla; Podolski, Giroud, Walcott

Bayern Munich: Neuer; Lahm, Van Buyten, Dante, Alaba; Schweinsteiger, Martinez, Muller, Kroos, Ribery; Gomez

Sports Mole says: 2-2

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