Gunners "are always difficult.
They have good shape, good movement. It's my third time playing them here and
I've not beaten them" says ex-Barcelona boss
Pep Guardiola fears that Arsenal will make his European champions
"suffer" as he tries to make it third time lucky against the Gunners
in London.
The Bayern Munich boss has told his
players they must starve Arsenal of possession in Wednesday's Champions
League last-16 first leg as he believes Arsene Wenger's men will carry a
major threat to Bayern's hopes of retaining the trophy.
Guardiola said: "I have a lot of respect for my colleague Arsene, he
always likes the good, good players, always likes the good style.
"They have good shape, good movement. If we let them have the ball,
let them have possession then we will suffer.
"The most important thing, for me as a trainer, is to make sure the
players dominate the ball.
"It's my third time playing Arsenal here in London and I've not beaten
them. I've learned that you can dominate for 75 minutes - 90 minutes is
impossible - and with their quality of player, Arsenal are always difficult.
"I know Cazorla, Wilshere, Ox-Chamberlain, they have experience.
Giroud is terrible for us in the box. They are a very dangerous team."
Guardiola was also full of praise for Wenger, and claimed the fact the
Frenchman faces going nine years without a trophy at one of England's elite
clubs should not be seen as a failure.
The former Barcelona boss said: "Life is not only trophies. Arsenal
compete with huge teams, important teams. They remain a good team and a good
club."
Bayern's ex-Chelsea winger Arjen Robben
also claimed the Germans are better now than the team which knocked Arsenal out at this stage last year and
can make history by retaining the title they won at Wembley.
Robben added: "We try to play our football, good football and the
hunger is still there and there hasn't been a team that has won the Champions
League twice in a row so that is a good target for us to try to reach the
final.
"It's for other people to judge if we are better now but we are trying
to improve, enjoy our football and we have a lot of determination plus big
players coming into this club.
"It's an honour to play for this team."
Arsenal
vs Bayern Munich: Probable teams
Arsenal Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Flamini, Wilshere,
Ozil; Rosicky, Cazorla, Giroud.
Bayern Munich Neuer; Rafinha, Boateng, Dante,
Alaba; Lahm, Thiago; Robben, Kroos, Muller; Gotze.
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