Arsenal must bring grade A game for Bayern clash, says Ray Parlour

Ray Parlour has urged Arsenal to bring their “grade A game” when the Gunners take on Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday.

Arsene Wenger’s men prepared for the crunch European tie with a 2-1 victory over Premier League title rivals Liverpool at The Emirates to set up a FA Cup quarter-final against Everton.

I just hope they can do themselves justice and put their grade A game on

Ray Parlour

And Parlour feels Arsenal, who suffered a 3-1 home loss to Bayern in the Champions League knockout stage last season, must take their chance against the holders at Emirates Stadium.

“Arsenal will have a chance being at home,” Parlour is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.

“I just hope they can do themselves justice and put their grade A game on and give Bayern Munich a game.”

Parlour also played down Jose Mourinho’s criticism of Wenger and the Arsenal manager’s past eight trophyless years in charge of the north London club.

“Everybody’s trying to win trophies, everybody’s trying to be successful, but sometimes you can go over the top a little bit,” Parlour added.

“Whether Jose Mourinho looks back – and he probably doesn’t regret it – but maybe looks back and says “Maybe I went too far this time”. If you look at Arsene Wenger’s record it’s not too bad: two doubles, he won the FA Cup a few times, he had an unbeaten season.

“Everybody knows the last eight or nine years they haven’t won a trophy, they’re trying to put that right.

“A lot has changed in the club. They’ve more or less paid the stadium off and there’s lots of opportunity now.”