Former Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has described Arsenal and Bayern Munich as the two strongest teams in world football ahead of their Champions League showdown at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.
Lehmann, who represented both clubs during his playing career, offered his assessment while previewing what could be the Gunners’ biggest challenge of the season.
Arsenal head into the clash in outstanding form, sitting six points clear at the top of the Premier League after winning 11 of their first 12 matches and conceding only six goals. Mikel Arteta’s team remain favourites to lift their first league title since 2004 and have also recorded four successive Champions League victories without allowing a single goal.
Bayern Munich, similarly dominant, lead the Bundesliga by six points and are Europe’s highest-scoring side so far this season. The Bavarians are one of only three teams with maximum points from their opening four Champions League fixtures.
Lehmann believes the pairing represents football played at the highest level worldwide.
Speaking to TZ München, he said:
“The two best teams in the world currently will be facing each other. Both teams are playing at a top level right now.
I’ll be at the stadium. It will be interesting for me to see how both teams perform at different moments in the match.
I expect a very close game. Bayern did very well away in Paris [when they beat Champions League holders PSG 2-1], but if they want to press like that on Wednesday, Arsenal will play a bit differently.
That will be interesting. It’s a home game for Arsenal, so I see a slight advantage for them.”
The highly anticipated fixture is expected to be one of the standout matches of the Champions League group stage, with both teams showcasing elite form domestically and in Europe.
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