Arsenal team news: 27-year-old axed from starting XI to face Bayern – report
By Will Butcher
Arsene Wenger is set to drop Theo Walcott for Arsenal’s Champions League clash against Bayern Munich on Wednesday night, according to a report.
Walcott, 27, has started Arsenal’s last two outings against Chelsea and Hull, but is set to be axed from Wenger’s starting line-up and must be content with a role from the substitutes’ bench.
The Times claim that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will replace Walcott out wide, after playing in a midfield role during his last two appearances for the Gunners.
It is believed that Wenger wants to offer more defensive cover on the flank, with Oxlade-Chamberlain entrusted to work harder in Arsenal’s defensive third than Walcott.
Elsewhere, the report claims that Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka will return to the starting line-up in order to cover Oxlade-Chamberlain, who moves to the right flank.
Arsenal will be hoping for a better result than their last encounter with German champions Bayern, which saw them lose 5-1 at the Allianz Arena in last season’s group stages.
Recording two wins against Carlo Ancelotti’s side in their past five games, Wenger will be hoping that his side can take solace in those victories to give the Gunners a first-leg advantage.
Arsenal come into the game off the back of a 2-0 win at home to Hull City, while Bayern are in a tremendous run of form that has seen them win 10 of their last 11 matches.
Both sides will be vying to take a lead to the Emirates Stadium ahead of the second leg, which will be played on March 7 in north London.
In other Arsenal news, Martin Keown has called on Wenger to challenge this attacker to prove his worth against Bayern.
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