Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal combined XI

Bayern Munich will lock horns with Arsenal on Wednesday night at the Emirates Stadium in what promises to be the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League’s most well matched encounter yet. The Munich and London based

sides are widely considered Champions League favorites — especially Bayern after their 2-1 victory over Paris Saint Germain.

But the real question is this: What happens when Europe’s best attack meets Europe’s best defense? Well, the answer will become clear after Bayern’s free flowing attack meets Arsenal’s structurally sound defense.

In the meantime, let’s take a moment to appreciate the quality of both sides and figure out who makes the cut in a Bayern Munich and Arsenal combined XI.

A quick note on selection rules: The chosen formation will be a 4-3-3 and no injured or suspended players are allowed to be chosen.

Goalkeeper: David Raya

Full respect to Manuel Neuer, who in my opinion is the greatest goalkeeper of all time, but Arsenal’s backline isn’t the only reason they have the best defensive record in Europe’s top five leagues. A large part of ‘The Gunner’s’ defensive solidity has been their cornerstone on the very last line, David Raya.

Ever since his arrival from Brentford, Raya has helped his side achieve new heights by offering cat-like reflexes, a commanding presence in the box and elite level distribution. Raya has staked his claim as one of the world’s most complete goalkeepers, pipping Neuer in almost every metric bar passing.

Despite Neuer’s miraculous remontada this season, Raya get’s the nod based on his all-round quality and consistency.

Right-back: Jurriën Timber

The promising Dutch defender had a difficult start to life at Arsenal in the 2023/24 season after suffering an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury. However, what followed was a tremendous comeback. In 2024/25 Timber proved why the London based side committed €45m to sign him, and in 2025/26 he is now cementing himself as an invaluable piece to Mikel Arteta’s chess board.

Just like Konrad Laimer, who like Neuer narrowly misses out despite his incredible season, Timber offers world-class cover in a number of positions. He can be deployed as a right-back, center-back or even left-back, however, Arteta has preferred to use the five foot ten defender on the right-hand side of defense given his well-rounded capabilities going forward on defense.

Timber will be looking to prove himself on the world’s biggest stage against, arguably, the world’s best right-winger, Michael Olise.

Center-Back: Dayot Upamecano

The linchpin of Bayern and Vincent Kompany’s defense. While the masses have been drooling over Gabriel Magalhães, who would have been included in this lineup had it not been for his recent injury while on international duty for Brazil, Dayot Upamecano has quietly been transforming into one of the world’s best center-backs.

Upamecano, a long-time victim of the occasional high profile mistake and bout of bullying from physical strikers, has managed to iron out the niggling mistakes that have held him back from world-class status for the longest time. The Frenchman has had a near-flawless season, proving incisive in build-up and extremely physical in defense.

Arsenal’s attack are going to have a hard time getting past the 27-year-old center-back who will be chomping at the bit to prove that he can, once again, perform in a high-stakes match.

Center-back: William Saliba

While one could argue that Gabriel has had a stronger season than William Saliba; the Frenchman has been the pillar of Arsenal’s defense for the last three seasons despite his young age. Where Gabriel’s form has faulted, Saliba’s has remained consistent.

The 24-year-old is another large reason this Arsenal defense have not conceded a single goal in the Champions League so far. Leadership, composure, world-class ball-playing and above all, physicality. Saliba is everything you want in a center-back and more. After all, any defender capable of pocketing the Premier League’s best striker, Erling Haaland, is worthy of a place in the Bayern and Arsenal combined XI.

Although, let’s see if the Frenchman is able to silence Harry Kane.

Left-back: Riccardo Calafiori

Similar to Timber, Riccardo Calafiori is also able to be deployed in center-back, however, preferred down the left-flank — Arteta really values positional versatility if you didn’t clock that by now.

While Calafiori’s defensive qualities are perhaps more expected from a player who can play in the heart of the defense, it’s the Italian’s attacking qualities that have drawn the most praise. In particular, Califiori’s ball carrying skills have been highlighted as one of his greatest strengths, allowing his side to transition quickly from defense to attack. A quality that is no doubt going to come in handy against Bayern.

Defensive Midfielder: Joshua Kimmich

Number six. Defensive midfielder. Deep-lying playmaker. Whatever you want to call it, Joshua Kimmich is hands down one of, if not, the world’s best. While the German captain may get his flowers in Bavaria, he is often overlooked in the eyes of Europe, however, he shouldn’t be.

Kimmich is special. How many players can say they have been considered the best in the world in two seperate positions of the course of their career? Not many. But Kimmich can. In the 2019/20 season, the Rottweil-born player could have claimed his stake as the world’s best right-back after taking up the mantle of Philipp Lahm and helping lead Bayern to a treble from the right-hand side of defense. Just like Lahm, Kimmich then made a permanent jump to the center of the park, quickly becoming elite and widely considered the best in the world between 2020-2022.

Under Kompany, Kimmich is emulating the same form that earned him the praise of the world best defensive midfielder a few years ago. A worthy candidate to take up the mantle in the heartbeat of the midfield.

Central Midfield: Declan Rice

Another example of a player who often gets confined to one role in the midfield but proves he can do it all. Pin point accurate passing, powerful scoring, relentless tackling and towering physicality, Declan Rice is a midfield-machine.

Rice’s strengths while the ball is moving is only the start. The six foot two midfielder is phenomenal on the dead ball as well. Whether it be a corner, a free kick into the box or a shot on goal from a free kick, Rice is the master and the ball is very much under his control. Need I remind you of his two astounding free kick goals against Real Madrid in the Champions League last year?

Rice is going to be a menace in the middle. Bayern are going to have a long night keeping Arsenal’s machine under control.

Central Midfield: Eberechi Eze

If anyone in the Premier League was deserving of a move to a top side it was Eberechi Eze, and he is proving exactly why. Arsenal, long accused of overworking club captain, Martin Ødegaard, have been crying out for a creative alternative in the middle of the park — and Eze is the solution.

The former Crystal Palace man doesn’t just slot perfectly into Arsenal’s midfield and provide much needed cover for Ødegaard but offers an additional option down the left flank, often criticized as the London outfit’s biggest weakness. Two glaring problems, one innovative signing: Eze has been ‘The Gunners’ transfer of the season.

The 27-year-old is going to be out for blood against Bayern on the back of his hat-trick against London rivals, Spurs. ‘Die Rekordmeister’ are going to have to offer up their own innovative solution to keep the Englishman quiet.

Right Wing: Michael Olise

Against any other player, this would have been a tap-in. However, Bukayo Saka does give you reason to think. Nonetheless, given his form this season, Olise is the best right wing in the world and that makes it an easy decision.

From one former Crystal Palace player on the back of a hot performance to another. While Eze managed three goal contributions against Spurs, Olise managed five against SC Freiburg. The Frenchman capped a display that perfectly sums up what makes him so dangerous. Electric pace, sleek dribbling and a venomous shot to round it off.

Olise is every defender’s worst nightmare, and he’s ready to make Europe’s best defense wet the bed.

Left Wing: Serge Gnabry

On the fringes, surplus to requirements and rumoured with a transfer away from Bayern. That’s how Serge Gnabry started the season. No one expected the comeback that followed.

Kept and deputized in attacking midfield out of pure necessity as a result of Jamal Musiala’s injury, Gnabry found new form and new life in a Bayern jersey. The 30-year-old attacker, who’s inconsistent form is often pointed out, has strung together a number of fantastic performances this season, scoring and assisting goals in the process. Not only that, Gnabry has also shown strong performances in big moments, like his strong showing against PSG in the Champions League.

While the German national has mainly been deployed through the center for Bayern this season, given Luis Díaz’s suspension, Eze’s selection in the midfield and Gnabry’s superior output compared to Leandro Trossard, he gets the nod on the wing.

Striker: Harry Kane

Harry Kane is inevitable. Not only that, but given even more positional freedom under Kompany he’s also everywhere. Thus making him inevitable everywhere on the pitch. Now if you thought that was a headache to read, just imagine how much of a headache it is for defenses to figure out.

Kane will be looking forward to capitalizing on the time it takes Arsenal to find a solution to a problem that so many teams have failed to produce. And even if Arsenal prevent him from scoring his 25th goal of the season, they may very well end up on the wrong side of his visionary passing and creativity. The Londoner’s are likely to fall victim to Kane’s inevitability either way.

Arsenal’s resolute defense are about to take the ultimate test. Will they pass or is Kane going to personally stamp a big fat F on their clean sheet?

Get in the comments and let us know who makes your Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal combined XI!

If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…