Where are the Bayern Munich fans for the Champions League game against Arsenal?

With a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over FC Porto, Arsenal reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2009/10. The Gunners are sitting top of the Premier League – on goal difference from Liverpool and a single point above Man City – and have made impressive progress in Europe, strengthening the feeling that this could be a memorable season for supporters.

As the star-covered balls (ever wondered where that UCL logo came from?) were picked in the draw for the latter stages of the Champions League, Mikel Arteta’s side were handed a tough draw against the reigning German champions, Bayern Munich. However, Thomas Tuchel’s side have been struggling in domestic competition this season with the league virtually guaranteed to be going to Leverkusen. And they will take to the field at the Emirates Stadium in London without their supporters for the first leg against the Gunners.

Why have Bayern fans been banned for Arsenal game?

Bayern Munich supporters were banned by UEFA, European football’s governing body, from attending the away leg of their quarter-final clash after fans threw fireworks onto the field during their victory over Lazio in the previous round. Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said at the time that the club would not appeal the decision and criticised those fans involved.

“We have to accept this punishment. Not only were pyrotechnics set off, but also fired deliberately onto the field, directly endangering bystanders,” he said. “The fact we now have to play away without the support of our fans is a big blow. A small group of individual offenders have done a disservice to all our supporters and the team.”

Who sits in the Arsenal away end and can Bayern fans still attend?

Arsenal were told that they could fill the vacant away end with their own supporters for the home leg, a major boost for Odegaard, Rice etc in what should be a noisy partisan atmosphere. Bayern have asked their followers not to travel to England.

Obviously doubts were raised over how secure the punishment would be. And so London club has followed up the ban by telling their own fans that anyone found to have sold their ticket to a Munich supporter will face a ban for themself. Back in 2017, thousands of Cologne fans bought tickets for the Arsenal ends in a Europa League match. Violent scenes ensued and the game was delayed by an hour as the police took control.

What happened the last time Arsenal played Bayern Munich?

...is a question that few Arsenal supporters will need to ask. This year’s meeting looks evenly balanced with very little to choose between the two sides, but previous games between the Gunners and Bayern Munich have been embarrassingly one-sided.

Incredibly, each of the last three meetings between Bayern Munich and Arsenal has ended with a 5-1 victory for the German giants.

In 2016/17 the two teams met in the Round of 16 stage of the Champions League and Bayern won both legs 5-1, giving them a resounding 10-2 victory across the tie. The previous season Bayern and Arsenal had met in the group stage and the Bundesliga side ran out 5-1 winners at the Allianz Arena.

This time around, however, the omens look better for Arsenal as they look to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2008/09. The Gunners’ backline has been incredible in the Champions League and they have conceded just five goals in eight matches, the fewest in the competition.

Arsenal are yet to concede a single goal on home turf in this year’s competition and could get their own back against a Bayern side that is underperforming in Germany. They will be looking to channel the memories of a 2-0 victory over Bayern in 2015/16, when current coach Arteta was an unused substitute for the Gunners.