Mikel Arteta has admitted that Arsenal remain in a “different universe” to European powerhouses like Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, citing the club’s lack of Champions League success. The Premier League leaders face the six-time European champions at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, with both teams boasting perfect records in this season’s competition.
Arsenal have won all four league-phase matches without conceding a goal, while Bayern have also a 100% record and are joint-top scorers. Harry Kane, the former Tottenham striker, returns to north London having scored 27 times for Bayern this season. Kane has netted six times at the Emirates, more than any other visiting player, including a goal in last season’s 2-2 quarter-final draw.
Arteta emphasized the gulf in pedigree: “If you talk about performances and consistency, hopefully yes. But to consider that in terms of trophies at that level, we have never won the Champions League in our history and Bayern Munich have won it six times. So, we are not there.” Arsenal reached the semi-finals last season before losing to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain and have only reached the final once, in 2006.
On injuries, Arteta revealed that strikers Viktor Gyökeres and Kai Havertz will undergo scans to assess their availability for Sunday’s match against Chelsea, while captain Martin Ødegaard is hopeful of returning to face Bayern. Defender Jurriën Timber praised Kane, calling him “an amazing striker” and “one of the best players in the world,” and acknowledged the challenge of stopping him.
Kane, whose contract with Bayern runs until 2027, has been linked with Barcelona as a replacement for Robert Lewandowski. However, he insisted he is happy in Germany and has not had contact with any club. “The move has been one of the best decisions in my life,” Kane said. “To experience a new league, a team like Bayern Munich… it’s helped me evolve as a player.”
