Arsenal v Bayern Munich: Mathieu Flamini says current Gunners team shares ethos of mid-2000s side

The Frenchman is confident Arsenal can progress in the Champions League

Mathieu Flamini with Mikel Arteta (GETTY IMAGES)

Mathieu Flamini believes the FA Cup victory over Liverpool shows Arsenal have the right ethos to cause an upset against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

The Gunners showed their resilient side in the 2-1 win over Liverpool to progress to the quarter-finals.

But now they must turn their attention to an even tougher task - that of the German champions Bayern Munich who come to the Emirates on Wednesday.

“We know it won't be an easy game because Bayern are a very strong team, but we are Arsenal, we have big ambitions,” said Flamini. “If we want to qualify, we have to get a good result against Bayern."

Flamini, who returned to Arsenal for a second spell in the summer, sees the same ethos in the current side as the one that won the Gunners' last trophy, the 2005 FA Cup.

“What I will say about this season is that I see a great commitment, I see everyone working very hard on the pitch and helping each other.

“I think it is what we had during my first spell here (from 2004 until 2008) and we won the FA Cup in 2005, because against Liverpool it was a difficult game, from the first to the last minute everyone worked very hard, even the players playing up front.

“We asked them to defend and to help the team and they did it very well, which is very important for us. It was important to show some character on the pitch, some solidarity.

“This year, Arsenal have a lot of ambition and are fighting for the league title. We have qualified in the FA Cup and we will do everything to qualify in the Champions League.

“We know it will be a difficult game and now it is important to recover very well because we had so many games. Today, we will start thinking about Bayern.”

With the win over Liverpool, Arsenal remain on course to win the treble this season. In the race for the Premier League title, the Gunners have shown an ability to win when not at their best, something Flamini says points to possible success.

“I think the commitment this year is very important, it is very good. We have a collective of players and we need everyone because we want to win a trophy.

“We have had difficult games this year and when we have had to fight and compete in these games, we have done so. We have had a lot of victories away from home (eight in the Premier League) and that is very positive for us.”