Arteta needs to nullify Bayern Euro experience

Germans’ domestic form is poor but Gunners boss is wary of Champions League pedigree

- Dan Kilpatrick

WHATEVER happens from here in the Premier League title race, there is no longer any doubt that Mikel Arteta has built a great team at Arsenal.

The Gunners are probably the best out-of-possession side in Europe and underpinned by a steely ruthlessness which has put paid to the lingering questions about their mentality and soft centre.

They still need to get over the line to major honours, but it increasingly feels like a matter of time before they win the title again, even if they may have to wait for one or both of Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola to leave their current posts with Liverpool and Manchester City respectively.

Building a team to compete for the Premier League and a side capable of dominating in Europe are very different challenges, however, and a Champions League last-16 tie against Bayern Munich will test Arsenal's progress and, perhaps more importantly, their pedigree on this stage.

While Arsenal are on the up domestically, Bayern are heading in the opposite direction, and their remarkable era of Bundesliga dominance is all but certain to end in the coming weeks when Bayer Leverkusen - also led by a 42-year-old former Spain midfielder in Xabi Alonso- dethrone the Bavarians as champions.

It is doubtful, however, how much domestic form actually matters for an occasion like tonight's first leg in north London, largely because Bayern are so steeped in history in this competition and Arsenal are not.