Bayern Munich may have a history of premature triumphalism against English clubs – Mario Basler’s applause to the fans with Bayern 1-0 up in Barcelona in 1999 lingers in the memory – but nobody could accuse Pep Guardiola of taking Arsenal lightly before tonight’s Champions League match at the Emirates stadium.

Despite Bayern coming to London with a six-point lead in Group F, Guardiola insisted Arsenal’s desperation to win would give them an impetus.

“In this situation, they have the advantage,” Bayern’s coach said. “They have to win. When that happens with these kind of players, they are going to make the best performance possible. I cannot expect a team that doesn’t fight for 90 minutes.

“It’s the last chance. In life, when you have the last chance, you give absolutely everything, and we have to be prepared for that against Arsenal.”

Earlier in the day Arsène Wenger had spoken of his respect for his opposite number, albeit with a pointed declaration of support for any manager with the conviction to send out an offensively minded team in a results-oriented game. Guardiola was similarly appreciative of Wenger, albeit with the reservation that he could never imagine himself spending two decades at the same club.

“Twenty years at one club is now impossible,” he said. “Nobody has that energy any more. It can get boring for the people; Arsène is an exception, like Ferguson was. Wenger is not only a manager, he is a sporting director. He changed the club. They played defensively before he came. Wenger is more than just a manager for this club. He is almost everything. He can be at a club for longer. Me: no!”

Midfield conductor

Bayern’s chief conductor in midfield at the Emirates will be Xabi Alonso, a man old enough to have played in England when today’s opponents were last league champions. Much has been made of Arsenal’s lack of focus in the Champions League this year, and of the English clubs’ mid-season weariness. Asked if his own career had been prolonged by leaving the Premier League, Alonso answered with a knowing laugh.

“I will never know that. Every country, every league, is difficult,” he said. “But we know how demanding it is in the Premier League, there’s no doubt about that: so many games, so much intensity, no break in the winter. But at the moment, I enjoy my winter break here in Bayern. It’s quite a nice one.”

Meanwhile, Wenger has said there is no reason why his Arsenal side cannot match Bayern Munich in their Group F encounter.

“What we want to do tomorrow is win the game. We want to defend well, attack well, score the first goal, that is massively important in the big games,” Wenger said. “You can never promise you will score three goals in 20 minutes because that would be absolutely crazy. What we can do is start in a strong way and that is what we will try to do.”

Wenger feels Arsenal need to show a completely different attitude from when they were beaten away by Dinamo Zagreb on matchday one and then slumped to a 3-2 home defeat by Olympiakos.

“We have some ground to make up in Europe as we have not been at our requested level in our first two games,” he said.

“Our focus has been much stronger in the Premier League than it has been in Europe, and we know in this game the focus needs to be exactly the same as in the Premier League.

“We have the needed belief and confidence that we are doing something right, so that helps. We maybe could be a little suspected of not taking the first two games at the level of not taking the opponent seriously enough, so this time this is not the threat. Let’s take the positives of our Premier League [form] and, as well, get the right focus that you get when you play a big opponent.”

Gabriel available

Arsenal will have centre-back Gabriel available again following illness. Goalkeeper David Ospina (shoulder) is not available, so veteran Petr Cech is set to retain his place.

Striker Olivier Giroud returns from a European suspension after his red card in Zagreb. Midfielder Jack Wilshere (fibula), forward Danny Welbeck and Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky (both knee) continue their rehabilitation.

Bayern will be without Netherlands winger Arjen Robben, who suffered a thigh injury on international duty. Midfielders Douglas Costa, Javi Martinez and forward Kingsley Coman have all travelled and will be assessed. Guardian Service