Arsenal play an extremely important UEFA Champions League match in Munich against a Bayern side they defeated on 20th October. That victory has been the capstone in an impressive run that has seen the Gunners ascend to the near top of the Premier League table as well as keep their hopes alive of advancing in Europe’s elite competition, a feat that seemed daunting just two weeks ago. Arsène Wenger recently spoke to the media about the upcoming match and what it means to the surging squad.
Recently, every week was absolutely important and we have done well. I think it’s more to continue to develop as a team and to focus to win every single game. We’ve done that until now.
This match comes in the middle of a difficult period for the club, and a difficult week in particular. This past Saturday, Arsenal went to the Liberty Stadium and defeated a Swansea side that had recently been an accomplishment out of the team’s grasp, and the win went a long way toward erasing memories of the double defeats against the Swans from last season. After the Bayern match on Wednesday, Arsenal will play in the north London Derby on Sunday against a Spurs side playing excellent football. However, Wenger reiterated the importance of maintaining focus on the short-term that will be required to compete against an immensely talented Bayern squad.
We had difficult weeks before. We have done well so that should give us belief. We have another big game tomorrow so let’s just go game by game and focus on that.
Wenger hopes to use the match tomorrow against Bayern as a way to show the squad’s progress since earlier in the season, and as a way to again measure themselves against one of the best clubs in Europe.
I don’t want to take anything away from Bayern. They are doing extremely well, they are playing well. I think it’s a good opportunity for us to show that we’ve moved forward and are up to the test we face tomorrow. We have shown that in the first game.
We have an opportunity to show it again tomorrow and what you want is 100 per cent commitment from the players in an intelligent way. Football is football, you cannot absolutely predict everything and that’s why it’s great.
