Bayern not unbeatable, says Wenger
ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has urged his team to disregard Bayern Munich’s aura of invincibility as they attempt to pull off perhaps the greatest individual result of his 998-game reign tonight.
The Gunners must beat the holders by two goals in Germany, just as they did 12 months ago, to have any chance of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in four years. Bayern have won 16 games in a row in the German top flight and 21 of their last 24 European home fixtures, but Wenger is taking heart from last season’s win in Munich and victorious past trips to Milan and Madrid.
“We’re focused on putting on a great performance. The history, with last year, is important. We know we can do it this time because we already did it last year. It is a possible task for us,” he said last night.
“My team has quality and ambition. With a top performance we can do it. It would be absolutely great to win. A big win would set us up for the last few months of the season.
“Statistics are against us. But we have already won 5-1 against [Inter] Milan [in 2003]. And we have won everywhere in Europe.
“Bayern are the best team on the continent at the moment, but I am confident. It is difficult to say if Bayern are better this year than last. We will see. But of course, they have the quality to be there right at the top. Performances win you games, not being favourites.”
Wenger also urged Norwegian referee Svein Oddvar Moen to exercise restraint, having seen red cards undermine Arsenal’s efforts in the first leg and three years ago at Barcelona.
Erstwhile centre-back Thomas Vermaelen could start at left-back for Arsenal as Kieran Gibbs has failed to recover from a calf knock and Nacho Monreal remains injured. Laurent Koscielny is fit to resume his partnership with Per Mertesacker at the heart of the defence.
Bayern are without winger Franck Ribery and midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri, both injured.
ARSENAL OMENS
Bayern have been known to take their foot off the gas when progress has been all but secured, losing 2-0 at home to Arsenal last year and 3-2 to Man City in December
The Gunners were the last team to stop Bayern scoring – 54 games ago
Arsenal are unbeaten in five trips to Germany, winning three times, such as at Borussia Dortmund in November