Bayern players celebrate the 1-0 lead during the German Bundesliga match between Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich at the Weserstadion in Bremen, Germany, 17 October 2015. PHOTO/EFE
BERLIN, October 18- Bayern Munich head to London for Tuesday’s Champions League match against Arsenal buoyed after setting more Bundesliga records, but wary of the winless Gunners.
Top faces bottom in Group F at the Emirates Stadium with Pep Guardiola’s Bavarians beating Olympiakos and Dinamo Zagreb in their first two matches and Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal losing in Croatia and at home to the Greek champions.
Bayern tuned up for the trip by grinding out a 1-0 win at Werder Bremen on Saturday as Thomas Mueller’s first-half goal — his ninth of the season — was enough to give them a ninth straight win at the start of the campaign, a new Bundesliga record.
The Germans are all too aware that Arsenal need a win to keep alive their dreams of reaching the knock-out stages.
“We have won the first nine games, there is a long way to go, but it is impressive how much this teams wants it,” said Bayern captain Philipp Lahm.
“It won’t be easy (in London), but we’re ready. Arsenal are definitely better than zero points from two games.”
Lahm described Mueller as “cold as dogs’ noses” in his finishing for the winning goal in Bremen, while the 26-year-old forward said their records will count for little against a Gunners’ side desperate for Champions League points.
“The records won’t do anything for us in our next few games, but it’s something which has never happened in Bundesliga history, so it’s fascinating,” said Mueller.
With a seven-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga table already, Bayern are on course to become the first side to win four straight Bundesliga titles.
Meanwhile, in keeping his 137th clean sheet in the Bundesliga, Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer matched the impressive haul of Bayern’s legendary shot-stopper Sepp Maier.
“In London, we’ll need to give everything to win,” said the 29-year-old Neuer.
Arsenal are fresh from beating Watford 3-0 away on Saturday in the Premier League thanks to three second-half goals.
Guardiola was missing his main wingers in Bremen with France Under-21 star Kingsley Coman nursing a thigh strain and Douglas Costa rested, while Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery are not yet ready after lengthy lay-offs.
“We’ve won a tough game at Bremen, who defended very deep,” said Guardiola.
“It wasn’t easy to find gaps, especially since we had no wingers,” added Guardiola who hopes to have Costa, Coman and Robben available for the game in London.
