Only goal difference is keeping Arsenal behind leaders Manchester City heading into the derby and Cech knows the players can not go into that game still thinking about their humbling defeat in Germany.
Advertisement
Bayern Munich’s 5-1 demolition of Arsenal on Wednesday placed the Germans in the driving seat in Champions League Group F and coach Pep Guardiola put their success down to competition among his players for a starting spot in the team.
Arsene Wenger has said Arsenal’s chances of progressing in the Champions League are “at a minimum” following their 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich.
The hosts started the game positively and opened the scoring after just 10 minutes when Thiago launched a ball in the direction of Robert Lewandowski, before the former Borussia Dortmund man headed past Petr Cech from four yards.
“It is clear we miss Messi, but I am in the form of my life and I hope to continue like this”, said Neymar.
“But Arsenal actually should have scored another two or three. On top of that, we made things quite easy for them with our defensive performance”, he said. Arsenal at least looked like ending the night on a high, however, when they got one back with 20 minutes remaining through Olivier Giroud’s superb finish. It was a big step and we have almost qualified.
“It was hard because it is an opponent who plays good football”.
“There are a few positives in the second half but obviously we need to do better defensively and be more aggressive because we allowed them too much time on the ball”.
With two games to go, Arsenal are no more than very long shots to reach the knockout phase after Dinamo Zagreb’s 2-1 defeat at Olympiakos.
Guardiola had no such injury concerns and opted for fleet-footed wingers Douglas Costa and Kingsley Coman on the flanks with Netherlands captain Robben on the bench.
“We have to win both games and get two goals on Olympiakos, but it’s not over and that’s how we have to approach it”, Per Mertesacker, the Arsenal defender, told BT Sport. It’s a small chance but a real one.
Advertisement
Last Friday, Bayern dropped their first points of the season in the Bundesliga with a 0-0 draw against an Eintracht Frankfurt side who defended deep in their own half.
