In what is a massive boost for Arsenal, Bayern Munich will not be permitted to bring any away fans with them to the Emirates for the huge Champions League quarter-final draw between the two sides.
Bayern were likely one of the teams Mikel Aretta would have been hoping to avoid, but the fact the Gunners will have total home advantage in the first leg is undoubtedly a massive boost to their chances of progressing.
Bayern Munich fans banned from quarter-final clash with Arsenal
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Why have Bayern Munich fans been banned?
It is a result of UEFA issuing a one-match ban to Bayern fans after, during a routine 3-0 victory against Lazio earlier in the Champions League campaign, they were found to have launched a series of fireworks onto the pitch.
There was no appeal from the German club, and the punishment will be served during the away portion of their two-legged tie against the Gunners.
On the ban, Bayern CEO, Jan-Christian Dreesen said: “We have to accept this punishment. Not only were pyrotechnics set off, but also fired deliberately onto the field, directly endangering bystanders.”
Before he also voiced his disappointment at those responsible, stating that “A small group of individual offenders have done a disservice to all our supporters and the team.”
A much-needed boost for Arsenal
The Gunners may be giants within English football, but, much to the dismay of their supporters, they have often struggled to impose themselves in European football. The ‘Invincibles' failed to accrue European silverware, while the side also suffered an agonising defeat at the hands of FC Barcelona in the 2006 Champions League final.
Their record in Europe is underwhelming, especially when their opponents come in the form of Bayern Munich. The pair have battled it out a whopping 12 times in the competition over the years, but the North London club have emerged victorious on just three occasions, with the German winning seven times.
The fact then that there will be almost 60,000 Arsenal fans present in the Emirates for the home leg of this tie could be a major factor in the Gunners taking a massive step towards ridding themselves of the Bavarian hoodoo they are so clearly cursed with.
Fan reaction to the draw
However, despite that terrible form against Bayern, Arsenal fans appear to be relatively confident that they can finally get the better of the German giants.
One fan took to X, formerly Twitter, to highlight the fact that if the Gunners are to win the competition, then tests such as these must be overcome. They said: “I like this draw was expecting them or Barca ..we need stuff like this to know how strong we are … if we can’t win this it shows we aren’t ready for the big stage.”
While another Gunner made an incredibly bold prediction, claiming that they “are beating Bayern both home and away.”