Exclusive: ‘I really like his teams’
Mikel Arteta, speaking to TNT Sports, says he will not underestimate the challenge awaiting his Arsenal side against “innovative” Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
The German giants are six-time European champions but have struggled domestically this season, with Xabi Alonsoâs Bayer Leverkusen on the verge of ending Bayern’s streak of 11 straight Bundesliga titles.
Manager Tuchel is set to depart when the disappointing campaign draws to a close, but the 50-year-old could yet leave on a high if he can add another Champions League crown to the clubâs roll of honour.
Tuchel has history in Europeâs elite club competition, having steered Chelsea to glory in 2021, and Arteta is well aware Arsenal will have to be at their best if they are to advance to the last four.
Asked if he was surprised by Bayernâs Bundesliga form, Arteta told TNT Sports: âI don’t know. I only have incredible words for Thomas. Full admiration because every team that I have followed, I got in love with it.
âSuper good coach. Very innovative, very creative, a lot of courage. I really like his teams.
âAnd what heâs done at Bayern, he came last year and already had an impact and they are in the quarter-final of the Champions League.
âHe did it with Chelsea, he did it with Dortmund, and it is a team with a lot of experience.â
It is also a team that contains Harry Kane. The England and former Tottenham striker has scored 38 goals for Bayern in all competitions this season and is no stranger to finding the net at the Emirates.
In eight Premier League games at Arsenalâs home ground, Kane notched five goals before heading for pastures new.
âIt’s not only in the individual quality that they have, the collective mechanisms, they are a really offensive team,â Arteta added.
âYou can see that, you look at the stats and what they generate, so it will put a question mark on us.
âWe have worked obviously and we will try to deliver our best possible performance to avoid that happening because we know how important that is.â
Arsenal are fighting on two fronts in the closing stages of what has been an enthralling campaign.
They are locked in a three-way scrap for the Premier League as they bid to end a barren run in that competition that stretches back two decades, while they also have the chance to make the last four of the Champions League for the first time since 2009.
To do that, Arteta has called on the entire fan base to unite behind the team and for his players to believe in themselves and enjoy the occasion.
âWe are going to try, thatâs what we always try,â Arteta said. âLetâs try and create a unique atmosphere from the beginning.
âThe energy, the passion, the positivity that we have to create in every action to believe that we can do it.
âWe’ve done it in the past and tomorrow it has to be the best one. I think altogether we can achieve it.â
âEmotionally, we have to control the game. We have to be very clear in the intentions, the game that we have to play. You have to be really aggressive when you have to, you have to be patient in certain moments as well because against some teams they demand you to do that.
âAnd the most important thing is belief. Have a lot of belief, have courage and visualise that it’s going to happen and I’m going to have a great day and mostly enjoy the moment because this is the type of game that you prepare to play as a player.â
How to watch Arsenal v Bayern Munich?
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