Arsenal must make Bayern Munich sacrifice as Premier League title ambitions come into focus

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Arsenal might need to consider heavy rotation for their massive Champions League clash with Bayern Munich due to their crazy fixture schedule

International breaks can be a frustrating time for fans but in just a week’s time Arsenal will be building up to the first North London Derby of the season. Thomas Frank got one over Mikel Arteta in pre-season but at the Emirates Stadium the stakes are very different.

Both clubs have enjoyed contrasting starts to the campaign, and while Spurs sit in fifth, the Gunners have been by far the most impressive team in the league, while their north London rivals have struggled for consistency. That said, form tends to go out of the window for these games.

The game after the derby for Arsenal happens to be another of a similar ilk as they travel to west London to take on Chelsea. The Blues sit third in the table, just six points behind their capital contemporaries.

Both games stand as the final ‘big six’ opponents that Arsenal have left to face in the first half of the season. Win both, and the club’s title hopes will be significantly boosted.

While this might seem obvious, there is something of a conundrum for Arteta to undertake. Between the two games sits the Gunners’ most challenging test on paper of the season.

In the UEFA Champions League, Arsenal have won four from four so far, but coming to the Emirates Stadium is arguably the most in-form side in Europe. Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich saw a 16-game win streak come to an end at the weekend as Union Berlin held them to a 2-2 draw.

For most, this game was pegged as the litmus test, but because of where it has fallen, that arguably should change. Now, it could even be the game Arsenal choose to rotate out some of their senior stars so they can focus on the domestic challenges.

The positive is that by that time, the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke, and perhaps even other injured stars could be involved. Arteta was optimistic that many would return after the break, and so it could be here that they get the much-needed minutes to reintegrate back into action.