Arsene Wenger today hailed Bayern Munich as the best side in the world but insisted they have vulnerabilities his Arsenal team can expose tomorrow night.
The Gunners are under pressure to revive their Group F campaign after losing their opening two matches to Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiakos ahead of back-to-back games against the German giants.
Bayern have been successful on their last two visits to Emirates Stadium and are on a 12-game winning streak with Poland striker Robert Lewandowski having scored 15 goals in seven matches for club and country.
Asked if Bayern, who won the Champions League and Club World Cup in 2013, are the best team in the world, Wenger replied: “Of course, because you can consider the teams who win the Champions League are the best in the world because most of the time they win after the World Cup of the clubs in recent years.
Arsene Wenger's worst European results
“There is no team without weaknesses. If you ask me to come out with them then I would not specially do that but there is no team without weaknesses.
“They are a great team with many great individuals who work hard for the team. It is a credit to them they are there or there about every year so it is going to be a difficult game but we are more than capable of getting a result if we play the way we know we can.”
Wenger admitted Arsenal have lacked focus in Europe so far this season but challenged his team to match the intensity of their recent Premier League performances having beaten Manchester United and Watford 3-0 either side of the international break.
“We have the needed belief and confidence that we are doing something right so that helps,” he said.
“We maybe could be a little suspected of not taking the first two games at the level of not taking the opponent seriously enough so this time this is not the threat so let’s take the positives of our Premier League and as well get the right focus that you get when you play a big opponent.”
Midfielder Aaron Ramsey agreed the players have struggled to replicate their concentration in domestic matches when stepping out in Europe’s premier club competition.
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“I think that is fair because the results have gone against us,” he said.” You have to give 100 per cent commitment and concentration in the Champions League. You’re up against the best teams in Europe so there’s no room for any slip ups. It’s important for us to go into the game tomorrow with the same mentality as in the Premier League and hopefully we can get the result that we’re looking for.”
Goalkeeper Petr Cech will make his Champions League debut for Arsenal as David Ospina is sidelined with a shoulder problem, while Gabriel is available after shaking off an illness.
