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      Eidevall says Arsenal should not fear Bayern Munich’s solid home record as Gunners eye Champions League semis spot

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      JONAS EIDEVALL insists Arsenal must not fear Bayern Munich’s formidable home form in their Champions League duel. The head coach, 40, feels the Gunners are in ‘a good place’ following recent wins including their Conti Cup triumph against Chelsea.
      Jonas Eidevall hopes to guide Arsenal to Champions League semi-finals this seasonCredit: Getty
      The Gunners face a stern test in their clash with Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena at 5:45 pm on TuesdayCredit: Getty
      Their opponents are second in Germany’s top-flight after winning 13 of the 15 games they have played so far this termCredit: Reuters
      Tuesday evening sees Arsenal back in action in Europe when they visit Bayern in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash.
      The German side have been in scintillating form with 12 wins from their last 13 matches across all competitions.
      Results include a 3-1 group stage home defeat of Barcelona last December.
      The Gunners chief said: “Our performance against Liverpool and Reading has shown that we’re a team in a good place right now.
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      “With the preparation here for Bayern Munich and the preparation lately, I have had a feeling of sharing less information with the players because I’m more assured that we know what to do in those situations.
      “Let’s hope that it’s a good sign or not sign a false security, but I choose to believe in the first.”
      On Saturday Eidevall watched Bayern in action in Germany’s top tier when the team visited Koln who are second from bottom.
      Alexander Straus’s aces thrashed their opponents 5-0 with all their goals scored in the first half and winger Klara Buhl netting twice in 15 minutes.
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      Eidevall, whose side whose side clinched an away win and draw against Lyon and Juventus, added: “They were very dominant and they won very well deservedly. 
      “It’s never easy to be that dominant against an opponent so we know we’re going to play against a good team, but we’re also a good team. 
      “There are a lot of similarities in the way that both teams play so I think it’s an exciting match-up from that perspective as well.
      “We have respect for that (in terms of Bayern’s home record) but we shouldn’t fear it.
      “We’ve been playing teams that have had great home records this season in the Champions League to be fair.
      “Lyon and Juventus, are two teams that have excellent home records in the Champions League.
      “We managed to draw in Turin and we won against Lyon.”
      Arsenal’s duel with Bayern at the Allianz Arena comes four days after the club sealed a surprise swoop for Jodie Taylor.
      The veteran striker has joined the WSL side until the end of this season following her spell as a Gunner from March 2016 to November 2017.
      The club have also triggered their option to extend Manuela Zinsberger’s contract.
      The goalkeeper, 27, who joined the club in 2019 after a five-year Bayern spell, will remain with the side until the end of next season.
      The Gunners hope to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since March 2013.
      Manuela Zinsberger says winning the Champions League with Arsenal would mean the world to herCredit: Getty
      Triumph in the tournament would see them become the first English club to win the trophy twice.
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      The Austria shot stopper said: “If we could win the Champions League, it would mean the world.
      “I guess I would be speechless and just happy.” More

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      Arsenal 3 Zurich 1: Nobbs scores a stunner and Hurtig nets her first Gunners brace as WSL leaders thwart Zurich

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      JORDAN NOBBS belted in a wondergoal and capped her first Champions League start of the season in style as Arsenal survived a Zurich fightback. Lina Hurtig bagged a brace as the Gunners marked their 100th game in the contest with a 3-0 victory at the Emirates.
      Jordan Nobbs’ superb strike saw her net her first Champions League group-stage goal this termCredit: Getty
      Lina Hurtig scored twice against Zurich in her first start for ArsenalCredit: Getty
      Arsenal are now two points clear at the top of Group C after two wins in two games and a convincing victory watched by a 5,397-strong crowd.
      They have been beaten just once in their last 14 games played at home with their last loss occurring against Chelsea in the FA Cup in April.  
      Meanwhile, former Gunners boss Joe Montemurro steered Juventus to a 1-1 draw with Lyon with the French giants third with just a point from two outings. 
      Jonas Eidevall made seven changes to the Arsenal side that hammered the tournament record winners 5-1 with Vivianne Miedema returning to his first 11. 
      The Gunners gaffer, whose team have played three games in eight days, gave starts to Nobbs, Mana Iwabuchi, and Hurtig who shone in her first start for the club. 
      Eidevall said: “I thought with us coming off a pretty tight playing schedule it was important for us to change the squad at this moment.
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      “I expected Zurich to be a little bit lower but we had to work a little more to break them down.
      “Jordan’s first goal was a prime example of her finding the right moment to go forward to attack.
      “This game really came at a moment where we needed to trust the whole squad.
      “It’s the Champions League so everything is at stake and I hope the players feel that and that trust in them.
      “When you put players on in a Champions League game it’s because you trust them.
      “I’ve been really happy with how people have been training and how the spirit has been.”
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      Arsenal’s game took place hours after Gunners’ Prem centre-back Pablo Mari was flown to hospital after being stabbed at a supermarket in Milan.
      The defender, 29, on loan at Serie A side Monza, is one of five people reported to have been attacked around 6:30 pm local time this evening.
      Eidevall added: “He is at the hospital and is alright under very sad conditions.
      “I hope he and all the other victims are as good as possible following this event.
      “I hope they can all feel the love from the Arsenal family. No person should go through things like that.”
      Jonas Eidevall’s side are now top of Group C ahead of their November duel with JuventusCredit: Reuters
      Germany legend Inka Grings, who with Beth Mead holds the record for the most goals scored at a Euros, said her Zurich side would do all they could to stress the in-form Gunners. 
      The last match between the clubs saw the Swiss side thrashed 7-2 by the WSL leaders in 2008 with Kim Little netting a hat-trick. 
      The Swiss outfit sought to frustrate their opponents from the get-go. 
      And for the first 36 minutes, they held out congesting space in the final third whilst intercepting and blocking passes when they could. 
      But their resistance was finally broken when Nobbs struck a stunning 37th-minute volleyed goal following a superb cross from Steph Catley. 
      Eidevall’s, aces who face West Ham next, doubled their advantage close to halftime with Iwabuchi teeing up Hurtig’s headed effort following some delightful footwork. 
      The second half saw Zurich look to pull one back quickly with Seraina Piubel firing wide after evading Jen Beattie. 
      Seraina Piubel netted a second-half goal for Zurich at the EmiratesCredit: Reuters
      And the forward, who has found the net five times so far this term eventually got her wish with 13 minutes of normal time remaining.
      Her shot past keeper Kaylan Marckese sparked Zurich players’ celebrations on the touchline. 
      But their joy was shortlived as the hosts restored their two-goal advantage with Stina Blackstenius’ cross turned home by Hurtig.
      And the Arsenal striker fired an injury-time effort over the bar before her side saw out the win. More