Arteta hints at Bayern rotation after Forest: 'We adapt, learn'

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Arsenal head to the Allianz Arena on Wednesday for a daunting Champions League clash with Bayern Munich, and Mikel Arteta has suggested he may freshen up his starting XI after Sunday's hard fought 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal have won both of their opening Champions League fixtures this season, beating Napoli away before thrashing Lille 3-0 at the Emirates. Bayern represent a significant step up in quality, and Arteta made clear he expects a completely different kind of contest at the City Ground.

"I think it depends on the game and the way the opposition wants to play," Arteta said after the Forest win, as reported by football.london. "Today was a different one to Lille, and will be extremely different to three days' time against Bayern Munich, which will be 96 minutes man to man, and let's go. But we adapt, learn, and try to make the margins bigger."

Bayern's build up

Vincent Kompany's side head into the match looking to bounce back from a draw with Viking FK, though they did hammer five goals past Bodo/Glimt on matchday one. Bayern will be without Michael Olise, who was sent off against Viking, while Luis Diaz scored a hat trick in a 6-1 demolition of RB Leipzig at the weekend, giving the Bundesliga leaders an extra day of rest over Arsenal.

Possible changes

Arteta could look to rotate at both full back positions. Ben White started against Forest but may make way for Jurrien Timber at right back, while Riccardo Calafiori, who played the full 90 minutes in Nottingham, could be rested in favour of Myles Lewis-Skelly at left back after his impressive display against Lille.

In midfield, Bruno Guimaraes, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard started at the City Ground, but Martin Zubimendi could come in for Guimaraes, with Arteta likely to keep Rice and Odegaard given their experience in a game of this magnitude.

Further forward, Bukayo Saka is expected to start, with Noni Madueke pushing for a place on the left after his match winning contribution against Forest. Up front, it looks to be a close call between Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz, with Gyokeres perhaps the slight favourite having started Arsenal's previous two Champions League outings.

A possible Arsenal XI to face Bayern Munich: Raya; Timber, Konsa, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Madueke.

Wednesday's trip to Munich will give an early indication of how Arsenal measure up against one of the tournament's genuine heavyweights, with Arteta's squad depth set to be tested in the heart of Bavaria.