Gabriel Jesus believes there is no clear favourite for tonight’s UEFA Champions League match versus Bayern Munich. Given that we have advanced to the quarter-finals of the championship, there is no reason to be afraid by the rivals, he stated in his news conference yesterday. “If we arrive in the quarter-finals of the Champions League it’s because we deserve it and we have quality,” stated the Uruguayan. “We need to respect Bayern. They are Bayern, and we are Arsenal. They respect us as well, so this will be a big game. “Everyone here has played in large stadiums before, so everyone is prepared. It’s a big game and will be a tussle, but if we attempt to have fun on the field, it will help a lot.”

With the Premier League title figҺt on the table for the rest of the season, Jesus believes we are well prepared to face the impending challenges thanks to the squad’s fitness. “It’s the best part of the season for everyone who is still in the Champions League and also figҺting for the Premier League,” he added. It’s exciting because these are the decisive games, and minute nuances matter. Everyone has regained their fitness, and I hope that everyone can contribute more to the squad.

“The most essential thing right now is the group’s fitness. It’s only JT [Jurrien Timber] out, but he should be back soon, so this is fantastic because it gives us more power. We have a large squad with a variety of abilities. We realized that you had to seize the minor details, as we are doing now. Defensively, everyone is running back to assist the squad.

Jesus has four goals in six Champions League matches this season, but he is more concerned with assisting the squad as a whole than inflating his own stats. He said, “Maybe in the Premier League, I have good stats, but people don’t want to see them! I want to win games and trophies so that everyone is satisfied, but I’m a striker, and I want to score; I have to score, so I try. It doesn’t matter what competition it is; I try to have fun while still helping the team as much as I can.” Our first UEFA Champions League quarter-final in 14 years awaits as we visit Bayern Munich tonight in the first of two legs, and you can follow our final preparations with Inside Training.

Mikel Arteta has a strong group at his disposal for Monday afternoon’s training at the Sobha Realty Training Centre. Warm-up games, rondos, and a round-robin mini-tournament put our players through their paces ahead of the crucial encounter at Emirates Stadium.