Ahead of a pivotal Champions League group stage clash, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has offered a sobering assessment of his club’s standing in European football, placing them in a “different universe” compared to historic giants like Bayern Munich.
The Gunners, who host the German champions on Wednesday, are in fine form domestically and in Europe, topping their Premier League group and boasting a perfect defensive record in the Champions League so far. Their opponents, Bayern Munich, arrive with an equally flawless start to the competition, spearheaded by the prolific form of striker Harry Kane.
Despite Arsenal’s current momentum, Arteta pointed to the stark difference in trophy cabinets when measuring true elite status. The North London club has never lifted the European Cup, while Bayern Munich are six-time winners.
“If we’re talking about performances and consistency, then hopefully we are [elite],” Arteta stated. “But in terms of trophies at that level, we have to be realistic. We have never won the Champions League. Compared to clubs like Bayern or Real Madrid, with their histories, it’s a different universe. We are not there yet.”
The match will see a return to the Emirates for Kane, who has a formidable scoring record at the stadium from his time with Tottenham. The England captain has been in sensational form for Bayern this season. Arsenal defender Jurriën Timber acknowledged the threat, calling Kane “an amazing striker” and stating that stopping him would be “a nice challenge” for the backline.
In team news, Arteta indicated that captain Martin Ødegaard is hopeful to return for the fixture, while forwards Viktor Gyökeres and Kai Havertz will undergo assessments ahead of the weekend.
Speaking from the Bayern camp, Kane addressed ongoing speculation about his future, with reports linking him to Barcelona. The striker insisted he is content in Munich and has had no contact with other clubs, but did not completely rule out a future move.
“I feel very comfortable,” Kane said. “I’m really happy in Munich… If there’s contact, then we’ll see. But right now, I’m not thinking about it.”
Reflecting on his transfer from Tottenham, Kane called the move to Germany “one of the best decisions in my life,” crediting the experience with helping him evolve and improve as a player.
Wednesday’s encounter serves as a major test for Arsenal’s continental ambitions, a benchmark against which Arteta believes his squad still has considerable ground to make up.