Arsenal FC prepare to host Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich at the Emirates stadium tomorrow in the third round of UEFA Champions League group stage fixtures. The Gunners are without a win in the elite tournament, while the Bavarians are unbeaten in all competitions.
Arsene Wenger’s men must overcome the odds if they are to keep their slim hopes of a progression to the knockout stages alive and the Frenchman is hopeful that his team would prove the critics wrong. The 65-year-old also highlighted his plans to keep a check on the unstoppable Robert Lewandowski.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, as quoted by the club’s official website, Wenger said:
“First of all the best way to combat him [Lewandowski] is for us to have the ball.
“After that you have to be shrewd with him because inside the box he is outstanding, because of his technique, his finishing, his movement inside the box.”
I must say we have our backs to the wall – Arsene Wenger
The Frenchman also insisted that the Gunners are far behind Bayern Munich in terms of their European success and are not on the same level as tonight’s opponent, but have got the quality to come good with their backs against the wall.
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“Historically they have won the European Cup how many times? Five? And Arsenal zero. So you cannot say that historically we are at the same level as Bayern.
“I must say we have our backs to the wall and we play against a top, top team. So I can understand the scepticism of people. But we have to prove them wrong.”
Arsenal FC currently sit at the bottom of the group table, having suffered defeats to Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiakos. The Gunners need to get positive result in their next two Champions League fixtures – both against Bayern Munich, if they want to progress past the Champions League group stage for a 16th successive season.
Arsenal FC have faced Bayern Munich in two of their last three seasons in the Champions League knockouts and have bowed out to their superior counterparts in similar fashion – losing on away goals. Arsene Wenger’s men would be hoping they get lucky the third time.