MESUT OZIL has admitted Arsenal do not fear Bayern Munich as the Gunners prepare for a Champions League doubleheader against the Bundesliga champions.
The EPL giants Arsenal are currently sitting bottom of their Champions League group after suffering a humiliating 3-2 home Champions League defeat by Olympiakos last week and need two good results to turn their Champions League campaign around.
Bayern Munich have knocked Arsenal out of Europe in two of the previous three seasons and they have been in formidable form this season with eight successive Bundesliga victories, but Ozil remains optimistic about Arsenal’s chances.
Gunners playmaker Ozil, 26, got a goal and an assist as Arsenal crushed United 3-0 in the Premier League on Sunday.
He said, “It’s true that there is a lot of pressure on us in Champions league. We can beat Bayern though if we play at same level as against Manchester United.” Ozil told Bild.
“I was a bit surprised to see Bayern beat Dortmund 5-1. Bayern’s results show that they are in great form.
“We have a lot of respect for Bayern, but we are not afraid of them. We are playing at home and we know how to score goals and be successful against Bayern.
“Of course, it will not be easy, but we have the potential to beat any team.”
That result and Performance contrasted sharply with Arsenal’s fortunes in the Champions League so far, where they have slumped to defeat in their opening two group games against Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiakos.
Arsene Wenger’s side have reached the knockout stages of the competition in each of the past 15 seasons but those back-to-back losses mean there is huge pressure on Arsenal to win their next match at home to Bayern Munich.
The German champions are sweeping all before them in an outstanding start to the season, but Ozil believes Arsenal can get three points when Bayern visit the Emirates on Oct. 20.
“The win against Manchester United was also a signal if we play like that and wants it 100 percent, and then we can beat Bayern too,”
“We’re playing at home. We certainly have respect for Bayern, but we’re not afraid of them.
“We know how to score goals against Bayern and can be successful. It will be difficult, but we have the potential to beat any team.”
Ozil said it is no fluke that he got his first goal of the season against United, revealing that he feels in great shape and has no more pain in his knee.
The former Real Madrid midfielder’s performance on Sunday helped lift Arsenal into second place in the Premier League.
The Gunners are just two points behind leaders Manchester City and Ozil feels that this could be the year that they finally push on to win a first league title since 2004.
“We have a great team with a lot of world-class players,” he added.
“Our goal is to win the Premier League title. I think we can achieve it this season if we do not get any major injuries.
“But the season is still long.”
Arsenal produced their best performance of the season on Sunday as they beat Manchester United 3-0 climb to second place in the Premier League table and Ozil believes they can go all the way in the English top flight this campaign.