Arsenals Wenger turns to bench against Bayern

13 March 2013 19:46

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger turned to his bench for Wednesday's Champions League last 16, second leg, with Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky starting in the middle against Bayern Munich.

Arsenal face an uphill task at Munich's Allianz Arena having lost the first leg 3-1 in London three weeks ago.

Poland's Lukasz Fabianski started in goal in place of compatriot Wojciech Szczesny, who has been dropped, while Kieran Gibbs comes in at left-back after missing most of February with injury, with Carl Jenkinson named on the right.

Up front Oliver Giroud started, playing in front of Rosicky in the middle of midfield with Theo Walcott on the right wing and Spain's Santi Cazorla on the left.

There were no surprises in the Bayern team, with Arjen Robben coming in for Franck Ribery on the left wing, while Brazil's Luiz Gustavo took suspended Bastian Schweinsteiger's place in the defensive midfield role.

Belgium's Daniel Van Buyten comes in at centre-back for Germany's Jerome Boateng who is suspended because of the red card he received in the group stage win over BATE Borisov in December.

Starting line-ups

Bayern Munich (GER)

Manuel Neuer; Philipp Lahm (capt), Daniel Van Buyten, Dante, David Alaba; Luiz Gustavo, Javi Martinez; Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos, Arjen Robben; Mario Mandzukic

Manager: Jupp Heynckes

Arsenal (ENG)

Lukasz Fabianski; Carl Jenkinson, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Kieran Gibbs; Mikel Arteta (capt), Aaron Ramsey; Theo Walcott, Tomas Rosicky, Santi Cazorla; Olivier Giroud

Manager: Arsene Wenger (FRA)

Referee: Pavel Kralovec (CZE)

Source: AFP