Arsene Wenger is confident that Arsenal will smoothly advance to the Champions League semi-finals, surpassing Bayern Munich.
Arsenal, who are currently runners-up in the Premier League, are set for the return leg of their quarter-final clash against the Bundesliga heavyweights, Bayern, in Munich.
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The teams are evenly matched following a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium in the first leg last week.
Arsenal took an early lead with Bukayo Saka scoring at the 12-minute mark, but Bayern Munich responded with goals from Serge Gnabry and ex-Tottenham skipper Harry Kane.
Leandro Trossard leveled the score in the 76th minute, preventing a Bayern win and keeping Arsenal’s hopes alive to make it to the Champions League semi-finals, a feat they haven’t achieved since 2009.
Despite Bayern’s more illustrious history in European competitions, having clinched their sixth Champions League trophy in 2020, Wenger believes Arsenal can exploit Bayern’s fluctuating performance under manager Thomas Tuchel.
Marking a shift in German football, Bayern Munich did not secure the Bundesliga title this year, a first since 2011, as Bayer Leverkusen celebrated their inaugural championship victory this past weekend.
Looking ahead to Wednesday’s game at the Allianz Arena, Wenger said on beIN SPORTS: ‘Arsenal against Bayern Munich is a 50-50 game.
‘Bayern have recently been vulnerable at home in the Bundesliga, they lost to Dortmund in a very important game so they will not be 100% confident. I still think Arsenal might just glide through against Bayern.’
When asked if that prediction came from his heart or his head, Wenger then responded: ‘A bit of both, a combination!’
Arsenal’s build-up to the pivotal European match has been less than perfect, as Arteta’s team experienced a disheartening 2-0 loss to Aston Villa last Sunday.
Leandro Trossard has expressed a strong desire, shared by his fellow players, to bounce back in the match against Bayern Munich and demonstrate that they are still contenders for securing a significant trophy by the season’s end.
‘Everyone is ready, we can use this game as a reaction,’ he said. ‘It’s a big opportunity for us and it’s on the biggest stage.
‘Everyone wants to show what we’re capable of and there’s no better way to do it than on Wednesday.’
Arteta has called on his squad to seize the moment and propel Arsenal into the Champions League semi-finals, an achievement the club has not reached in 15 years.
Asked what he wants from his team at Allianz Arena, Arteta said: ‘A performance to put us in the Champions League semi-final.
‘All the preparation has been to achieve that. Everything we have done for 10 months, and last season to start that journey after so many years and, tomorrow we have an opportunity to make it happen.’
