Arsenal vs Bayern Munich: 'We will start strongly, but I can't guarantee we will score three in 20 minutes,' says Arsene Wenger
The Gunners face Bayern in crucial Champions League tie tomorrow night
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Your support makes all the difference.Confidence is the key and scoring first, according to Arsene Wenger ahead of his must win Champions League encounter with Bayern Munich tomorrow. That’s why they pay him the big bucks.
Wenger has seen his team rattle off four successive wins in the Premier League to sit just two points behind leaders Manchester City, which contrasts sharply with Arsenal’s Champions League form, losing the opening two group games against Dynamo Zagreb and Olympiacos.
Arsenal bounced back after the latter defeat at home to smash three goals past Manchester United in 20 minutes. Wenger believes Arsenal can continue that form against a team he described as the best club side in the world.
“It is a game we want to win. We have some ground to makeup in Europe, where we have not been at the requested level. The focus has been much stronger in the Premier League. We know the focus needs to be the same here,” Wenger said.
“We have the belief and confidence we are doing something right. That helps. Maybe we could be suspected in the first two Champions League games of not taking the opponent seriously enough. This time that won’t be a threat (issue).
“We have to win, we know that. All English teams need to make up ground. The Premier League takes energy out of all English teams. And Bayern are the best team in world right now, But there is no team without a weakness.
“We have played and beaten great Bayern teams at least as good as this one. We have to focus on both sides of the game, we know they like to go forward and we like to go forward. We know are playing against a top side.”
Bayern have yet to concede a goal in the Champion League this season. They have won all nine matches in the Bundesliga, which sets a new record and this without wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.
The scale of the challenge is such according to Wenger that it guarantees against a return of the sub-conscious impulse to lose focus. “We prepared well against Zagreb and Olympiacos. Tomorrow I think everybody will be highly focused.
“What we want to do is win the game, attack well, defend well and score first, which is vital. I can’t promise we will score three in 20 minutes, that would be crazy. All we can do is start strongly.”
Wenger’s positive outlook is shared by Aaron Ramsey. “As a pro you come in wanting to give your best and win. We weren’t quite there to get the win in last two matches but we are really looking forward to this and going out there and expressing ourselves.
“They are a great team with great individuals who work hard as a team. It’s going to be a difficult game but we are more than capable of getting a result if we perform as we know we can.”
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