National League star excited to watch his beloved Arsenal battle Bayern Munich in crunch Champions League clash

When Arsenal take on Bayern Munich tonight, a sold-out Emirates Stadium will have its full attention on the meeting of Europe’s two most in-form teams.

Both the Gunners and the German champions are top of their domestic leagues, six points ahead of the chasing pack. In Europe, they have a perfect record with four wins from four, with Arsenal having failed to concede a goal so far in the competition. 

One keen observer who will be present in North London on Wednesday night is Boreham Wood midfielder and life-long Gunners’ fan Jon Benton, who will present for the standout fixture on Matchday Five, with DAZN sending the National League star to watch some Champions League action.

Benton’s love affair with football began with Arsenal, where the 24-year-old was born into an era ruled by Arsene Wenger and featuring stars like Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie. His ties to the club ran deeper when his own career began at the club, joining the academy as a six-year-old and getting to train at the Gunners’ famous Hale End.

“I was there when I was six through to eight, so I didn't quite make the under-nine squad, but I just remember that period of everything that I did as a child was football-related. 

"All my toys, everything that my mum and dad told me, I was just football mad. Then to go in at Arsenal and go to Hale End with all the facilities and to sit there and put on an Arsenal shirt at six years old, you don't really quite understand how big that was. Then, to play the games and to train and stuff, it was such a good opportunity, and that's where my love for Arsenal comes from.” 

Although Benton didn’t quite make it at his beloved Arsenal, he has forged out a career in the game for himself in the National League. Having played for Southend and Solihull Moors, the midfielder is now at Boreham Wood and has been part of a side that has exceeded expectations in the fifth tier this season by being among the promotion contenders, having only been promoted through the play-offs last year. 

As focused as he is on the job in hand, where he admits promotion is very much the aim for Luke Garrard’s men, Benton is also keeping a close eye on what’s happening at the top of the Premier League, and although he’s careful not to admit it, he’s confident this year could finally be Arsenal’s year.

“I feel a common theme for an Arsenal fan is you don't want to say too early, you don't want to get your hopes up, just in case something happens.

"In my head, yes, I think we've got enough this year to go and do it, and we are creating a little bit of a gap. But it is too early to call, a couple of injuries here and there, it's happened to us in past seasons, anything can happen.

"You don't want to get your hopes up, but, yes, inside I feel like we have got enough to do it, but you don't want to say it out too loud!”

Before he can think about celebrating a first title win in over twenty years for the North Londoners, there’s the task of Bayern on Wednesday night, who have been in equally impressive form in the Bundesliga.

It’s a game already befitting of the competition’s final, jam-packed with world-class names, but as a midfielder, what will Benton be mostly taking in as he watches on? 
Boreham Wood FC

"I feel like somewhere in my position, it's all about what players do off the ball, because you can never yourself be, for example, Eze, what he does on the ball, because there's a reason why he's in the Prem and why he's playing at the highest level.

"But I feel like the biggest thing that people can do, especially playing in the National League, is to watch what players do off the ball. The intensity they show to get into positions, what positions they pick up, and just how smart they are, in terms of picking up the right areas to drag players into and play around. I definitely think more off-the-ball stuff."

It's an insight only a footballer would be able to give, whatever level they are playing at, and it’s clear that Benton knows what he’ll be getting out of the game as he watches his club take on one of European football’s giants. But can we press the Boreham Wood man for a prediction for how things might go down on the night? 

“Even though it is a group stage game, I don't feel like that's what the atmosphere will make it out to be. I feel like it will be a lot deeper in terms of, like, you want to get one over a side like Bayern.

"I'm calling a clean sheet. I think we're going to win 3-0. It would be a statement win, but I think we've got more than enough to do it.” 

How to watch The National League exclusively on DAZN

You can watch the whole of the 2025-26 season with a National League TV DAZN subscription at a special offer price of £79.99! 

Every game in the National League, and selected matches in the National League North and National League South, is available on DAZN, either live and/or on-demand*. That's over 600 games all in one place.

NLTV on DAZN is available on any device, including Smart TVs, mobile devices, tablets, streaming devices, games consoles, and, for viewers in the UK, your Sky box.

If you do not have the App yet, follow these instructions...

• Download the free DAZN App from your normal App store on your TV, phone, tablet, or streaming device
• On a laptop or PC, visit www.DAZN.com/home
• Select 'Get started' or 'log in'
• Enter your email address, or sign up via the Apple, Google or Facebook options
• You then have access to all of DAZN's free content, including the Matchroom boxing channel, LIV Golf and FIFA+
• Then find the National League page and click 'buy now'

For more information and to sign up, head here now.

*3pm Saturday kick-offs are subject to TV blackout restrictions, but will be available to watch later on Saturday on-demand