Bayern Munich vs Arsenal: Arsene Wenger wants double over ‘great’ Bayern

The gunners won 2-0 when they met last month

Arsène Wenger has challenged his Arsenal side to prove that they are moving in the right direction by completing a Champions League double over Bayern Munich.

Having lost their two opening Group F games, Arsenal still face a challenge to make the latter stages of the competition, despite an impressive victory over the Bundesliga champions a fortnight ago.

A Capital One Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday aside, Wenger’s side are on a good run of form and are only being kept off the top of the Premier League due to Manchester City’s superior goal difference.

“I don’t want to take anything away from Bayern, they are playing extremely well,” said Wenger ahead of tonight’s game. “But I think it is a good opportunity for us to show that we are moving forward, that we are up to the test.

“What you want is 100 per cent commitment from your players in an intelligent way. We just want to do what it takes to make a positive result.”

His Bayern counterpart, Pep Guardiola, has taken that to mean that Arsenal will resort to a route one style in a bid to seal the win they need.

“They want to attack,” said the Spaniard, “but it’s difficult against us with our good pressing game and they will play a lot of high passes to Olivier Giroud.”

Although that style of play is anathema to Wenger, the Frenchman wasn’t about to contradict his opposite number. “I don’t think it is easy to look for a draw,” he said. “When you are Arsenal and we have won everywhere in Europe, even here, we will try to win the game. Are Bayern a great team? Yes. But it is a good challenge for us to compete with them.

“We are in a period where we are doing well and that should convince the players we can do something right. A defeat would put us in a very bad position, so the best way is not to get into that position and get points.”

Full-back Hector Bellerin will not feature after suffering a groin injury, with Mathieu Debuchy set to start in his place.