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Arsenal logo
Champions League | Quarter-Finals | 1st Leg
Apr 9, 2024 at 8pm UK
Emirates Stadium
Bayern logo

Arsenal
2 - 2
Bayern

Saka (12'), Trossard (76')
Partey (89')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Gnabry (18'), Kane (32' pen.)
Davies (9'), Kane (55')

"That's history" - Mikel Arteta brushes off 5-1 Bayern Munich thrashings

© Reuters
Mikel Arteta insists that Arsenal's recent 5-1 thrashings against Bayern Munich are "history" ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg.

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta is unconcerned about the Gunners' previous decimations at the hands of Bayern Munich ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg.

After 14 agonising years and seven consecutive last-16 exits from the Champions League, Arsenal finally banished their European demons by beating Porto on penalties in the second leg of their last-16 showdown.

A first Champions League quarter-final since the 2009-10 season now awaits the North London giants, who were drawn against a familiar face in German champions Bayern for their last-eight encounter.

Gooners have been subjected to several painful watches against the Bavarians in the past, as their most recent elimination from the Champions League in the 2016-17 season came at the hands of their upcoming visitors in a 10-2 aggregate crushing.

The Gunners lost 5-1 in both fixtures that year - the home thrashing remains their heaviest-ever defeat at the Emirates - prior to which they were condemned to an identically embarrassing defeat in the 2015-16 group stage.

Arsenal's David Ospina, Nacho Monreal and Granit Xhaka look dejected after Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben scores their second goal on March 7, 2017© Reuters

Mikel Arteta: 'Arsenal have to prove Champions League credentials'

Arteta was also involved as a player when Bayern knocked Arsenal out in the last 16 in the 2012-13 and 2013-14 campaigns, and the Gunners have been eliminated from all of their four knockout ties with Tuesday's visitors in the Champions League.

However, Bayern have lost their status as undisputed Bundesliga champions this season, as Bayer Leverkusen need to win just one more match to end the Bavarians' 11-year reign of dominance in German football.

Meanwhile, the Premier League title is currently Arsenal's to lose as they sit top of the table - above Liverpool on goal difference and one point better off than Manchester City - as Arteta's men endeavour to clinch a historic double.

The differing trajectories of both sides means that Arsenal may go into Tuesday's reunion as slight favourites, and Arteta has paid little attention to his side's previous drubbings versus the Munich powerhouses.

"It's there, that's history and when you look at the history of the competition that's clear. The nature and the capacity to perform on the biggest stages - we have to prove that, that's for sure," Arteta said at his pre-game press conference.

Arsenal's Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring their first goal on April 6, 2024© Reuters

Smiling Arteta responds to "great" Xabi Alonso question

The Spaniard also dismissed suggestions that Bayern's struggles domestically could harm them after Thomas Tuchel's men suffered a shock 3-2 loss to Heidenheim at the weekend, adding: "From my side no.

"As well it's something that we have no say or control over and we just expect all the time the best from our opponent, against Bayern, Brighton or Aston Villa. Regardless of where they are you always have to expect that they play in their best possible way and be prepared to outperform them."

Bayern's Bundesliga crown is slipping out of their grasp thanks to the sensational exploits of Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen, who have taken four points from two matches with the current champions this season, triumphing 3-0 in February to take a giant step towards the title.

When asked whether he had asked for pointers from his compatriot Alonso on how to beat Bayern, Arteta saw the funny side but only issued a short response, saying: "Great question but I'm not going to answer that!"

The Gunners had every first-team player available in Monday's training session, including Jurrien Timber, but the Dutchman is still not match fit after nearly eight months out with an ACL injury.

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Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer during the match on October 28, 2023
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