Arsenal travel to Bayern Munich in the Champions League after defeating the Germans at home... and here's how Arsene Wenger can beat Pep Guardiola again

• Arsenal face Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night
• Arsene Wenger's side beat the German giants at the Emirates Stadium
• Pep Guardiola is looking for revenge in the return fixture at home
• Victory over Arsenal is imperative for Bayern if they are to top Group F 
• Read: Arsenal in for tough night... Douglas Costa has been menacing

By Kit Holden for MailOnline

Published: 06:33 EST, 4 November 2015 | Updated: 10:35 EST, 4 November 2015

Just two weeks ago, Arsenal did what no other club has dreamed of doing this season. They beat Bayern Munich. After 12 wins in a row, it was Bayern's first defeat in a major competition this season.

The German champions will be out for revenge as the sides line up for a return fixture in the Allianz Arena. For Bayern, a win is all but imperative if they are to top the group.

Pep Guardiola's side are a formidable force at home in this competition. They won all six of their home ties in the Champions League last season, scoring 22 goals in the process. That said, Arsenal have a good record in Munich. They won 2-0 in 2013 and fought to a dignified 1-1 a year later.

Perhaps then, the stage is set for another shock in Germany on Wednesday evening.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is preparing to face Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday

Bayern's first defeat in a major competition this season came against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium

How did Arsenal beat Bayern two weeks ago?

Like most of the teams who have managed to beat Bayern under Pep Guardiola, Arsenal were ruthless on the counter attack. 

In a first half in which they had only 26 per cent of possession, Arsenal still created the better chances at the Emirates.

So brilliant before the break, Manuel Neuer gifted Arsenal a late lead with an uncharacteristic howler. But Arsenal's victory was deserved, the result of thoroughly disciplined defending and perfect deployment of their fastest players in attack.

Mesut Ozil pictured celebrating after scoring Arsenal's second goal against Bayern in the Champions League

Bayern will be out for revenge in the return fixture on Wednesday night as Arsenal travel to Munich

Are Arsenal long-ball merchants now?

During Tuesday's press conference, Guardiola remarked on several occasions that Arsenal would 'play long balls to Olivier Giroud'. Despite the headlines, it is unlikely the Catalan meant it in a pejorative way. 

Bayern themselves have resorted to the long ball quite often this season when faced with teams who defend with a compact high line. The ploy saw Jerome Boateng grab two assists from inside his own half against Borussia Dortmund last month.

Both Wenger and Guardiola know the virtue of the cultured long ball. Arsenal sat deep enough and marked well enough to nullify that threat at the Emirates, but it remains one of Bayern's key weapons.

Guardiola remarked that Arsenal would 'play long balls to Olivier Giroud' (pictured) at the Allianz Arena

Arsenal sat deep at the Emirates and were able to stamp out the threat of Bayern as they won 2-0

How do you nullify Arjen Robben?

After six weeks on the sidelines, Robben made a blistering return from injury against FC Koln a few weeks ago, and the flying Dutchman is itching for goals at the moment. 

With the arrival of Kingsley Coman and Douglas Costa this season, Bayern have a lot more strength in depth on the wings, and Robben has sometimes been freer to drift inside, or even from wing to wing.

It would be a mistake, however, to think of Robben as Bayern's main threat. If too many defenders are focused on him, Thomas Muller is given even more space than he naturally creates, and Bayern simply attack down the centre.

Arjen Robben (pictured) made his return after six weeks on the sidelines against FC Koln not long ago

Bayern boss Guardiola will be looking for revenge and distance themselves at the top of their group

Any gaps in the formation?

The problem with finding gaps in Bayern's formation is that they don't really have a formation. It's not total football, but Pep Guardiola is constantly tinkering with his shape, responding to the game as it develops.

Bayern's set up has been identified as everything from 3-4-3 to 3-2-2-3 via 2-3-5, and 3-2-5. In reality, though, the strings of numbers do Bayern's fluidity a disservice. 

When teams are sitting deep against them, Bayern effectively play with 10 strikers, all pressing and probing at once. The best way to deal with that is to nullify the more fixed elements such as Douglas Costa out wide or Robert Lewandowski up front. 

Thiago and Robert Lewandowski joke around during their training session on Tuesday in Munich

Guardiola is constantly tinkering with the shape of his Bayern team and his set-up is difficult to predict

How did Arsenal win in 2013?

Despite taking an early lead through Giroud, Arsenal's approach in March 2013 was similarly compact and patient to their style at the Emirates last month.

They soaked up an immense amount of Bayern pressure, notching up only five shots on goal to Bayern's 23. 

Many of those efforts were from long range, however, as Arsenal kept Jupp Heynckes' team at a distance.

Arsenal then set about trying to hit Bayern on the counter, attempting to free up Theo Walcott at every opportunity. 

The efforts were in vain, and it was from a set piece that Laurent Koscielny added the second goal and brought Arsenal within minutes of an astonishing turnaround, having already lost the first leg 3-1 at home.

Arsenal took an early lead through Giroud in 2013 as they tried to turn around a 3-1 deficit in Munich

Arsenal went within minutes of a remarkable turnaround but ended up going out on away goals against Bayern

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