Beating Bayern Munich
will raise belief at Emirates Stadium, says Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
The
Gunners had lost their 1st 2-Champions League games but goals from Olivier
Giroud and Mesut Ozil saw them beat Bayern 2-0 - and Arsenal can go
top of the Premier League on Saturday.
Wenger's
side are underside of Group F and face Bayern once more on 4 November.
The
Gunners boss said: "We had an absolute necessity to win and we did it in
an intense, disciplined game.
"It
can strengthen our belief and the belief of fans."
Bayern
had won 12 games in a row in all competitions before alternate Giroud headed
home and Ozil changed Hector Bellerin's injury-time cross to give Arsenal their
first points in the group.
'Giroud gives us
options'
Wenger
again started with Theo Walcott up front next to Bayern and the England forward
was shorn of the icebreaker in the first half by a thrilling one-handed save
from Manuel Neuer.
But
Giroud put Arsenal ahead 3 minutes after replacing Walcott when Neuer flapped
at Santi Cazorla's free-kick.
"Give
him some credit, it is not easy for Giroud," said Wenger.
"He
had a slight dip in form but he is coming back to his best. The focus and
spirit he shows, he's a winner.
"When
it doesn't work on the ground, he gives us options in the air. I like equally
Giroud and Walcott; it is just a subject of making sure I use them in the right
way."
'Two world-class
keepers'
Neuer's
dramatic save from Walcott counted for nothing in the end but Arsenal
goalkeeper Petr Cech was also in fine form to deny Bayern striker Robert
Lewandowski.
"Cech
kept us in the game and you can say the same for Neuer," said Wenger.
"There
were two world-class keepers on the playing field."
Bayern
boss Pep Guardiola also praised the role of Cech and refused to blame Neuer for
his part in Giroud's key opening goal.
He
said: "It was a really good performance from Cech. He's a top goalkeeper.
"In
the first half Neuer made huge saves and never in my life have I criticized a
player for taking decisions, right or not right. We did not lose because of
Manuel Neuer."
Guardiola eyes Munich
meeting
Guardiola
had not seen his side lose in 90 minutes this season and Bayern subject for
large periods at the Emirates - enjoying 73% possession and 21 efforts on goal.
Bayern
still remain top of the group and Guardiola - winner of the Champions League in
2009 and 2011 with Barcelona - says he was proud of his side.
"We
had sufficient chances to win, or at least not be beaten, but congratulations
to Arsenal for the win and we'll meet once more in 2weeks in Munich," he
said.
"I
can't explain why we didn't score. Sometimes you have chances but you don't
score. It's secrecy.
"I'm
so proud of my team. I like to win. I'm not happy but we played with courage
and played with qualities. You cannot come here and expect to create chances
and not grant some.
"In
the second half we played astonishingly. Arsenal didn't cross the halfway
line."