1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites

Robben relishing Bayern's "week of truth"

February 9, 2017

Bayern Munich face a make or break week with Arsenal coming to town in the Champions League. Arjen Robben is eagerly anticipating a game that could define their season.

https://p.dw.com/p/2XI9R
Training FC Bayern München
Image: picture-alliance/kolbert-press/C. Kolbert

Arjen Robben is relishing Bayern Munich's forthcoming "week of truth" when they host Arsenal in the Champions League with the German champions currently struggling for form.

"Our performances haven't been good enough and we have to do a few things better," said Robben. "We have to talk about this in training and make sure we play as a team. Arsenal will be 'the week of truth' and will be exciting."

Bayern limped into the quarterfinals of the German Cup on Tuesday with a 1-0 win at home to Wolfsburg, thanks to Douglas Costa's first-half goal and heroics from Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

They host Arsenal on Wednesday on the back of a record 15-game winning streak in European matches at the Allianz Arena.

Carlo Ancelotti's star-studded Bayern are four points clear in Germany's top flight and are at relegation-threatened Ingolstadt away on Saturday in the Bundesliga.

UEFA Champions League Bayern München vs Arseal Jubel
Bayern have faced Arsenal numerous times in recent seasonsImage: Getty Images/AFP/C. Stache

Robben says Bayern need a good performance at their Bavarian neighbors in their final fine-tuning before hosting the Gunners in the first-leg tie of the Champions League's last 16 round with the return in London on March 7.

The Dutchman scored against the Gunners in November 2015 when Bayern battered Arsenal 5-1 at the Allianz Arena, but is taking nothing for granted.

"Normally, we are always where we need to be for games like that, but it is a completely different game," said Robben. "It'll be a step up. It's Champions League and the opponents are always better."

mds/dv (AFP)