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| Pep Guardiola accused Arsenal of route one football |
The Bayern boss claimed the pretty football the Gunners' play in the Premier League went out of the window in their 2-0 win over the German side at the Emirates 15 days ago.
The Spaniard claimed the Gunners resorted to hoofing the ball out of defence when they were put under pressure.
"When you press Per Mertesacker or Laurent Koscielny they don't want to play," Guardiola said.
"They play long balls to Olivier Giroud and if they win these balls they can play with Santi Cazorla, with Mesut Ozil, with Alexis Sanchez, with Joel Campbell with all the big, big big players they have.
"Arsenal want to play it's in their DNA. But they were not able to play because we pressed well, kept good possession and they had to defend.
"But to attack against nine or 10 players inside their own box is not easy."
Despite beating the German giants, Arsene Wenger's team were constantly on the backfoot at home, having just 27 per cent possession and completing only 278 passes, compared to Bayern's 765.
But Wenger hit back at Guardiola, saying: "We didn't only want to defend, but we organised ourselves to defend well in certain situations.
"When Bayern dominate we have to focus. So we changed and played on the counter.
"We had two weapons, on the counter with Theo Walcott and a bit more direct and vertical with Giroud. It worked in the end."
With Walcott injured, the Gunners look set to go more direct again tonight.
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| Arsene Wenger knows his side need to avoid defeat in Germany |
They will also be without right-back Hector Bellerin, who has a groin strain, with Mathieu Debuchy coming in to replace him.
It will be the Frenchman's first Premier League or Champions League outing since the 2-1 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in mid-September.
Wenger also risked upsetting Guardiola by admitting he could not remember why he rejected signing the former Barcelona midfielder in the latter stages of his career.
"I met him at his home when he was 30-31 and he wanted to play for Arsenal," said the Frenchman.
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| Hector Bellerin has been ruled out of the clash for Arsenal |
"He showed great personality when we talked but I can't remember why I didn't sign him and he went to Italy (Brescia)."
A Group F loss tonight would leave Arsenal struggling to make it to the knockout stage.
"Look, a defeat will put us in a very bad position," Wenger admitted.
"It would diminish our chances to qualify. The best way is not to get in that positions and take points to qualify.
"I don't think it's easy to look for a draw. What we want is to play to win.
"When you're Arsenal and we've won everywhere in Europe, even here, so we will try to win the game.
"Is Bayern a great team? Yes, but it's a good challenge for us.
"We are in a period where we're doing well and that should convince the players they're doing something right.
"We have good togetherness and players who stick together when things not doing well.
"We will have uncomfortable moments during the game and that will be good opportunity to show that. In our good periods we want to attack.
"That means when we have to defend, we must do it well and get through these moments and take advantage of the better moments we have."
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