Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is braced for Bayern Munich, setting aside their Bundesliga struggles to produce their best possible performance in the Champions League quarter-finals. (More Football News)
The six-time European champions have endured a disappointing domestic campaign and travel to Emirates Stadium for Tuesday바카라s first leg on the cusp of relinquishing the German title for the first time in 12 years.
Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel is poised to depart his role at the end of the season, with his team currently 16 points adrift of leaders Bayer Leverkusen following four defeats in their last eight league outings.
Asked if the opposition바카라s poor form was relevant to the European tie, Arteta replied: 바카라From my side, no."
바카라It바카라s something we have no say in, no control of. We just expect the best from your opponent."
바카라Against Bayern, against any opponent, regardless of where they are you always have to expect that they play in their best possible way and be prepared to outperform them."
바카라Football is such a competitive environment and difficult to be consistent that this can happen to anybody."
바카라They are a top team. I am a big admirer of Thomas: his teams, the way they set up, the way they play, what they transmit."
바카라We have to take our game where we want it and if we do that we바카라ll have a chance to win.바카라
German champions-elect Leverkusen 바카라 managed by Xabi Alonso 바카라 thumped Bayern 3-0 in February en route to building their runaway lead.
Spaniard Arteta was coy on whether he had approached compatriot Alonso for advice on how to defeat the Bavarian club.
바카라Great question but I바카라m not going to answer that,바카라 he replied with a smile.
Arteta is relishing the pivotal final weeks of the season, with his Premier League leaders chasing a domestic and European double.
The Gunners have not played at this stage of the Champions League since the 2009-10 season and were hammered 5-1 on each of their previous three meetings with Bayern, in 2015 and both legs of a 2017 last-16 tie.
Arteta, who was a non-playing member of Arsene Wenger바카라s squad for the first of those thrashings, has little interest in dwelling on the past as he strives for silverware.
바카라It바카라s irrelevant, we just focus on the performance that we have to put in to beat a top and exceptional team with exceptional individuals,바카라 he said.
바카라We have to earn every right to try to make it happen."
바카라We haven바카라t been in this position for 14 years. For this club it바카라s a long, long time and we realise that and that바카라s why we have this hunger and desire to make it happen."
바카라This is where we want to be. We are in a really good position in the Premier League and we바카라re in a really good position in the Champions League."
바카라We have a big task ahead of us against one of the most successful clubs in Europe. That바카라s the hurdle we have to overcome and we바카라re looking forward to it.바카라
