Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger bemoans 'doped' Dinamo Zagreb in Bayern Munich preparations

Wenger still feels his side were 'unlucky' in their first two Champions League ties

ARSENE WENGER blamed a 'doped' Dinamo Zagreb for leaving Arsenal needing to beat Bayern Munich to keep their hopes of topping the group or even qualifying alive.

 

Zagreb midfielder Arijan Ademi failed a drugs test after the Croatian side had beaten the Gunners 2-1, although his B sample is still being investigated by Uefa.

But the Arsenal manager still produced some scathing remarks about the incident as he prepared for Pep Guardiola's Munich side.

"When you don’t play at your best and your opponent is doped, it is difficult," said Wenger

"We have organised World Cups before now with 740 players and zero doping cases and I don’t know if that is really a fact.

“We have to wait as well because there is a counter check [on Ademi] to see what comes out. 

"The rules are the rules and I cannot change that. I don’t think the result is really under any threat."

 

Arijan Ademi failed a drugs test after the clash with Arsenal

Assuming the result stands, Arsenal find themselves bottom of Group F going into their first battle with Bayern, having lost in Zagreb and then suffered a dismal 3-2 defeat at home to Olympiakos.

The only solace for Wenger is that the Gunners have been excellent in the Premier League, producing a memorable display before the international break to roll over Manchester United 3-0 at the Emirates.

“Our focus has been much stronger in the Premier League than Europe," added Wenger.

 

"We know against Bayern that the focus must be the same as in the Premier League. We maybe could be a little suspected of not taking the first two games at the level of not taking the opponent seriously enough. This is not a threat against this team.

“We know we play a top side, maybe subconsciously [it makes a difference]. I think we ­prepared well against Zagreb and Olympiakos.

"We are better equipped. We played great Bayern teams, at least as good as the one tomorrow, and beat them. They had Robben and Ribery at full power, Kroos, Müller and Schweinsteiger in midfield.

“There is no team without weaknesses. You have to respect Bayern. Historically they have won the European Cup how many times? Five? And Arsenal zero. 

"So you cannot say that historically we are at the same level as Bayern. We have our backs to the wall but history doesn’t play the game. What will decide the game tomorrow is the performance we produce.”