In the fifth round of the Champions League group stage, Arsenal secured a 3-1 home victory over Bayern Munich. During Sky Sports Germany's pre-match analysis programme, Shkodran Mustafi shared his perspective on the Gunners.
What makes Arsenal so formidable?
From the outset, Mikel Arteta has strived to build a cohesive unit where the collective takes precedence over individual brilliance. Every player demonstrates remarkable versatility, exemplified by the likes of Mikel Merino.
They contribute effectively in attack while also participating in build-up play, much like Bayern Munich's Kane. Midfielders such as Rice and Zubimendi not only orchestrate attacks but also venture into the opposition's penalty area.
They defend collectively and attack collectively. At times, they organise attacks in threes, at others in pairs. Full-backs Calafiori and Tiembe frequently operate in the number 6 or number 8 positions.
This flexibility makes Arsenal exceptionally difficult to break down. The team's cohesion is remarkable, with players complementing each other perfectly. Positions aren't rigidly defined; instead, they constantly seek out spaces and fill gaps where needed, which is precisely what makes them so formidable.
What is Mikel Arteta's game plan against Bayern?
Arteta understands his team's strengths intimately, recognises what the opposition excel at and the opportunities they present, and seeks to incorporate these into his own approach.
I believe he will place great emphasis on winning one-on-one duels, keeping the ball moving under pressure, and avoiding premature long balls, as that isn't this team's style. He also has Laya, who can get involved effectively in the game. They will still occasionally bypass Bayern's pressing line and launch swift counter-attacks.
With Arsenal missing star players like Havertz, Gyokeres and Jesus, who are their key players?
As I mentioned, they don't have specific key players. However, Gabriel's absence significantly impacts the team's defensive stability. He's also a target man for set pieces, having scored numerous goals from them over the past few years.