While Arsenal’s Champions League meeting with Bayern Munich is a match between two of Europe’s in-form clubs – both boasting 100% records in the competition, both six points clear domestically – it is also a reunion of, and friendly rivalry between, two key forwards.
For either side, victory at the Emirates would bring a top-eight league stage finish and guaranteed place in the last 16 into view, while maintaining a superb start to the domestic season. The Gunners have lost only once across all competitions, Bayern are unbeaten.
But the match will also have personal significance for two of Europe’s most creative and in-form forwards, who come up against each other just 18 months after terrorising Premier League defences in unison.
Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze and Bayern’s Michael Olise are firm friends from their three seasons together at Crystal Palace – a relationship that was strengthened through their love of chess.
After France international Olise had taught Eze how to play the game, the pair often got the pieces out for a contest at Palace’s training ground, helping to forge a bond that led to what was described at times as a telepathic on-field understanding.
Such was Eze’s natural flair for the game he won $20,000 in an online tournament in May – but he will be wary of being outmanoeuvred by Olise on the pitch.
“I didn’t start learning chess until Michael came in,” Eze said, speaking to the Athletic.
“It was him and my brother who nudged me to learn how to play and face them, so that’s when I started studying the game, watching YouTube videos of the best chess openings.”
Both players have taken a similar path over the past few years, rising from the Championship to fulfilling their potential at Crystal Palace.
They combined eight times for goals for the Eagles, with Olise providing all eight assists for Eze’s goals.
Now, they are competing against each other at the top of the European game and are also poised to feature for their countries at the World Cup.
But will either help their team to a checkmate position by full-time?
