Arsenal take on tormentors Bayern in pre-season clash
Robert Lewandowski ( L) and Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal clash during a Uefa Champions League game in March last year.
SHANGHAI- Arsenal will face their Champions League tormentors Bayern Munich in a pre-season friendly today.
Arsene Wenger’s men were hammered 5-1 by the German giants in each leg of their Champions League last 16 tie, resulting in a humiliating 10-2 aggregate defeat in March this year. But the clash at the Shanghai Stadium is part of the International Champions Cup.
Today’s clash will be followed by a fixture against English Premiership rivals Chelsea on July 22 at the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing. Chelsea then take on Bayern in Singapore on July 25.
Meanwhile, Alexis Sanchez’s declaration that he wants to play Champions League football next season was mistranslated, according to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
In an interview with Canal 13 in Chile this week, Sanchez was quoted as saying: “I want to play Champions League.
The decision does not depend on me, I have to wait for Arsenal.”
His apparent desire to leave the Gunners came after they missed out on qualification for Europe’s elite club competition for the first time in 20 years last season - Arsenal finishing fifth despite Sanchez’s career-best 24 league goals.
However, Wenger insists the Chile international’s comments were lost in translation and he has challenged Sanchez to fire Arsenal back into the top four next term.
Elsewhere, Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti rubbished suggestions yesterday that James Rodriguez was signed to replace misfiring German international Thomas Mueller.
The Colombian last week joined the Bundesliga champions from Real Madrid on a two-year loan that some have interpreted as a threat to Mueller, who is coming off the back of a poor season by his high standards. Rodriguez too has something to prove after losing his place at Real, and Ancelotti who managed him in Spain expects the 26-year-old to hit the ground running.
Rodriguez gives the Italian coach a broad range of options in midfield and attack.
INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONS CUP
Today: Bayern vs Arsenal (World Football ,2.20pm LIVE)
Tomorrow: Roma vs PSG (World Football ,3.05am LIVE)
