Jens Lehmann has revealed his prediction for Arsenal’s clash with Bayern Munich as the ‘two best teams in the world’ go head-to-head in the Champions League.
Premier League leaders Arsenal face one of their biggest tests of the season so far on Wednesday night as Bundesliga title favourites Bayern visit the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta’s side have enjoyed a sensational start to the season, opening up a six-point gap at the top of the Premier League after losing just one of their first 12 league games and conceding only six goals.
With defending champions Liverpool enduring an abysmal run and fellow title hopefuls Manchester City faltering, Arsenal are the short favourites to lift the Premier League trophy for the first time since 2004.
Arsenal’s brilliant form has carried over to the Champions League where they have enjoyed a perfect start, winning four games in a row without conceding.
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That perfect record will certainly be put to the test on Wednesday, however, as German champions Bayern Munich travel to north London.
Bayern have already pulled six points clear in the Bundesliga title race, with Vincent Kompany’s side scoring an impressive 41 goals in 11 league games.
They are also the highest scorers in Europe so far this season and one of only three teams with 12 points after four Champions League fixtures.
Lehmann believes the ‘two best teams in the world’ with be meeting at the Emirates Stadium and says he gives a ‘slight advantage’ to Arsenal given they are playing at home.
‘The two best teams in the world currently will be facing each other,’ Lehmann, a member of Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ team, told TZ Muenchen. ‘Both teams are playing at a top level right now.
“I’ll be at the stadium. It will be interesting for me to see how both teams perform at different moments in the match.
‘I expect a very close game. Bayern did very well away in Paris [when they beat Champions League holders PSG 2-1], but if they want to press like that on Wednesday, Arsenal will play a bit differently.
‘That will be interesting. It’s a home game for Arsenal, so I see a slight advantage for them.’
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Arsenal thumped north London rivals Tottenham 4-1 last time out thanks to summer signing Eberechi Eze’s hat-trick.
Bayern Munich also come into the Champions League clash in fine form, thrashing SC Freiburg 6-2 over the weekend.
England captain Harry Kane boasts one of the best records in front of goal from any striker this season, scoring 14 goals in 11 games.
Ex-Liverpool forward Luis Diaz and former Crystal Palace star Michael Olise have also impressed under Kompany, sharing 12 goals and 10 assists.
Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Odegaard have been absent for Arsenal recently through injury but could return for the visit of Bayern.
Bayern Munich have won eight of their 14 fixtures against Arsenal, scoring 30 goals compared to 15 from the Gunners. The Germans have won the Champions League six times, most recently in 2020.
After the European clash, Arsenal return to Premier League action against London rivals Chelsea while Bayern face Bundesliga relegation-battlers St. Pauli.
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