Arsenal Will 'Confront' Bayern Munich Says Mikel Arteta

Mikel Arteta has spoken to the press ahead of Arsenal’s huge clash with Bayern Munich this evening, with the Gunners preparing to face Vincent Kompany’s side at the Allianz Arena for the first time since a heart-wrenching 1-0 defeat in the quarter-final of the 2024 Champions League campaign.

Arsenal have played Bayern Munich on three occasions in the last two and a half years, with the results evenly spread between an Arsenal win, a Bayern Munich win and a draw. Most recently, the sides met in November 2025, where Arsenal ran out 3-1 winners at the Emirates Stadium after a superb performance in the league phase of the competition, with goals from Timber, Madueke and Martinelli.

Speaking on facing the German giants, Mikel Arteta has said how excited he is to get the opportunity to manage in a fixture of this magnitude in Europe’s elite competition. The Spaniard said, 'This is the stage, this is the kind of team, this is the kind of coach, this is the kind of club, the stadium that you want to be involved in.'

Arsenal’s boss was then asked about the team’s approach to tonight’s fixture, how he expects to set up and neutralise the obvious attacking threat that Bayern Munich possess through the likes of Harry Kane, Luis Díaz and Lennart Karl, and how Arsenal would counteract them to give his side the best chance of coming away with the victory. He simply responded, “We’re just going to confront that and go for it,” remaining tight-lipped to prevent giving away any tactical insight.

The Premier League-winning manager was also extremely complimentary about his opposite man, who is currently fighting a viral infection in the hope of being well enough to make the touchline tonight.

Arteta has faced Vincent Kompany as a manager on three occasions, registering 3-1 and 5-0 wins against the Belgian in his time as Burnley manager, before registering the 3-1 victory in their most recent meeting as Arsenal hosted Bayern last November. The two, of course, also worked together in their time at Manchester City. Speaking on his opposite number, Arteta said, 'I think the identity and the quality that his team has shown in the last few years, it’s another level.'

Arteta rounded up his press conference by giving a nod to Bayern’s attacking prowess, but also relished the opportunity for his side to be facing such a lethal force. 'That’s the opposition that you want to be facing, and we will be facing tomorrow,' he said. Bayern have scored a staggering 22 goals in six Bundesliga matches, also netting eight times in two games so far in the Champions League, so there is no doubt the Gunners’ back line will have their work cut out.

Kick-off for tonight’s huge fixture at the Allianz Arena is at 8pm in the UK, and for viewers based in the UK, the fixture will be shown live on TNT Sports/HBO Max.