CL: Goals will fly in game against Arsenal today, says Bayern's Martinez

Javi Martinez

Munich: Spain midfielder Javi Martinez expects the goals to fly in today's crunch Champions League clash against Arsenal with hosts Bayern Munich out to avenge their London defeat.


Javi Martinez

The Gunners beat Bayern 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium a fortnight ago thanks to goals from Oliver Giroud and Mesut Ozil as Pep Guardiola's Bayern suffered their only defeat of the season. Bayern remain top of Group F while the win moved Arsenal up to third place after back-to-back defeats to Olympiakos and Dinamo Zagreb and they need to win in Munich to keep their knock-out phase hopes alive.

"We're looking forward to the game. Both teams want to play attractive football and it'll be a good match for the fans to watch," said Martinez. "I think they will put less emphasis on defence and they won't simply stand behind the ball, both teams will try to score and I think Arsenal will attack. They'll try to press and get the ball, because they need the three points."

Pep talk
Bayern coach Pep Guardiola expects Arsenal to play "long balls to Giroud, which we didn't allow in the first leg". "They will want to attack. This is one of the top teams in Europe," added the Spaniard.


Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben (left) and David Alaba during a training session yesterday in Munich. Pic/AFP

Arsenal are unbeaten on their last two visits to Munich's Allianz Arena, but Guardiola is backing his team to make home advantage count to cement their place at the top of the group and put one foot in the knockout stages. "We lost in London, that can happen. Tomorrow is a new game with our own fans," he said.