Arsenal In ‘different Universe’ To Bayern Munich Due To Lack Of European Success

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal stay successful a “different universe” to European heavyweights specified arsenic Real Madrid and Bayern Munich fixed they person yet to triumph nan Champions League.

The Premier League leaders caput into their meeting pinch Bayern astatine nan Emirates Stadium connected Wednesday having won each 4 matches truthful acold successful nan convention shape and are nan only squad yet to concede a goal.

The Bundesliga champions besides person a 100% grounds successful nan title and are nan joint-top scorers pinch erstwhile Tottenham striker Harry Kane returning to northbound London having already recovered nan backmost of nan nett 27 times for Bayern this season.

Arsenal reached nan semi-finals of nan Champions League for nan 3rd clip successful their history past play earlier being knocked retired by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain and person only made it to nan last erstwhile – successful 2006 erstwhile they mislaid to Barcelona.

Asked whether they are already an elite European squad aliases still request to beryllium it by beating six-time winners Bayern, Arteta said: “If you talk astir performances and consistency, hopefully yes. But to see that successful position of nan trophies astatine that level, I mean, we person ne'er won nan Champions League successful our history and Bayern Munich person won it six times. So, we are not there. Compared [also] pinch Real Madrid - they’re a different universe.”

Arteta revealed that strikers Viktor Gyökeres and Kai Havertz will person scans to find if they could return from wounded layoffs against Chelsea connected Sunday and was hopeful skipper Martin Ødegaard will beryllium backmost against Bayern.

Kane has scored six times astatine nan Emirates Stadium – much than immoderate different visiting subordinate – and was connected target connected his past sojourn during Bayern’s 2-2 draw successful nan first limb of their quarter-final successful April 2024.

“I deliberation he is an astonishing striker, everyone knows that,” said Jurriën Timber. “He has truthful galore qualities. He has been doing it for specified a agelong clip already, and now astatine Bayern Munich he has been 1 of nan champion players successful nan world. So, it is going to beryllium a bully situation for america arsenic a team, arsenic defenders, to extremity him.”

Kane, whose statement astatine Bayern expires successful June 2027, is of liking to Barcelona arsenic a summertime replacement for Robert Lewandowski and nan England skipper appeared to time off nan doorway unfastened to that anticipation contempt insisting he is happy successful Germany.

“I haven’t had immoderate interaction pinch anyone, cipher has contacted me,” he told Bild. “I consciousness very comfortable successful nan existent situation, moreover though we haven’t yet discussed my business pinch Bayern. There’s nary rush. I’m really happy successful Munich. You tin spot that successful nan measurement I’m playing. If there’s contact, past we’ll see.

“But I’m not reasoning astir nan caller play yet. First up is nan World Cup successful nan summer. And it’s very improbable that thing will alteration aft this season.”