Mikel Arteta’s crucial task in defeating Bayern Munich in making the correct choices for the three midfield positions at Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta faces a crucial decision as he prepares his Arsenal midfield for the clash against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. With the Champions League quarter-final tie evenly poised at 2-2, the Gunners have a golden opportunity to secure a spot in the semi-finals.

The aftermath of the defeat has been substantial, and Arteta must now regain momentum with a crucial victory in Germany to uplift the team’s confidence and performance.

Nevertheless, a key aspect of this challenge will be his midfield choices. Bayern Munich is expected to have Leon Goretzka and Konrad Laimer in their lineup, along with other alternatives if needed. Thomas Muller could also make a comeback, especially with Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman sidelined due to injuries. Considering these factors, Arteta’s decision on the midfield lineup will be crucial for the upcoming match.

This was the trio that Arteta opted to begin with against Aston Villa, which subsequently sparked discussions in the aftermath of the match. Ironically, it was only after Martin Odegaard was substituted that Arsenal conceded, indicating that these three players were involved only when the team was not losing and contributed to a more impressive first half.

Having said that, if Havertz is included in the lineup, I believe he should be positioned in the forward line. He excels when he is closest to the goal, and against a formidable opponent like Bayern Munich, it would be preferable to have two additional defensive midfielders.

Therefore, selecting Rice and Odegaard alongside Jorginho would meet the desired objective of starting with two deeper midfielders. Jorginho has had an exceptional season, delivering strong performances against top teams such as Liverpool. However, there were some issues when playing away at Manchester City.