Harry Redknapp predicts Arsenal v Bayern Munich, highlights area for concern
By Dominic Toner
Harry Redknapp believes that Arsenal will lose against Bayern Munich in the Champions League and feels their defence is not strong enough.
The Gunners travel to Germany on Wednesday night for the first leg of their last 16 tie with Bayern.
Arsene Wenger’s side will start the match as underdogs and will be hoping to gain a positive result to take back to the Emirates Stadium on 7 March.
Redknapp is convinced that Bayern will prove too strong for the north London club and thinks the defence will struggle against the Bundesliga side.
“I know Arsenal have been over there and done well before, but at the minute Arsenal don’t fill me with great confidence,” Redknapp said, as quoted by Betsafe’s website. “I think Bayern Munich is a difficult place to go and I would be with Bayern all the way. I don’t think (defensively) they are good enough.”
Arsenal go into the Bayern match on the back of a 2-0 victory against Hull in the Premier League, with attacker Alexis Sanchez scoring a brace.
They managed to keep a clean sheet at the weekend, but Redknapp thinks their defence will be found out by a Bayern attack that possesses the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller and Douglas Costa.
Goalkeeper David Ospina could come into the side after playing in al their European matches this season, which would mean Petr Cech dropping out.
The Gunners played with a back four of Hector Bellerin, Laurent Koscielny, Shkodran Mustafi and Kieran Gibbs against Hull, with Nacho Monreal missing at left-back.
Arsenal have been knocked out by Bayern twice in the last four seasons, but picked up one win and one draw in their away legs.
Wenger’s side will be confident of causing an upset at the Allianz Arena and will be eyeing European success.
In other Arsenal news, Martin Keown has delivered his verdict on Arsene Wenger’s exit speculation.
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