Peter Schmeichel aims fresh dig at Arsenal after Bayern Munich thrash Atalanta | Football

Peter Schmeichel has taken a fresh swipe at Arsenal after watching Bayern Munich underline their status as Champions League contenders by thrashing Atalanta 6-1.

The Bundesliga giants finished as runners-up to the Gunners in the group phase and were comprehensively beaten at the Emirates Stadium on matchday five.

That defeat represents one of the few blots on Vincent Kompany’s copy book this season and his side appear to be hitting form at just the right time in a season that could yet end in glory.

Bayern were even able to cope without Harry Kane last night as they hammered their Serie A opponents without needing the England captain to come off the bench.

Michael Olise and Serge Gnabry were tormentors in chief, while Jamal Musialia, who made his comeback from a long-term injury, also dazzled in a 45-minute second half display.

Schmeichel, meanwhile, has been a fierce critic of the way in which Arsenal have gone about their business this season and has accused them of being overly reliant on set-piece, as well as bending the rules when it comes to grappling and shirt pulling.

The former Manchester United goalkeeper was annoyed by Arsenal’s negative tactics in a 1-0 defeat at Liverpool earlier this season and was deeply unimpressed by the way they scraped past Chelsea earlier this months courtesy of two goals from corner kicks.

And, after watching Bayern’s latest display of champagne football, Schmeichel admitted it made a hugely refreshing change.

In response to fellow CBS pundit Alessandro Del Piero declaring ‘it’s good to see this kind of football’, Schmeichel said: ‘Exactly!’

‘It was very good and especially at the moment where the debate over certain teams exploiting the rules.

‘You know Arsenal was wasting 30 minutes in a game the other day. All this pushing and shoving in the penalty area.’

On a potential meeting between Arsenal and Bayern in the final, Schmeichel added: ‘The way the draw happened, it kind of looks like, the number one team in the group phase Arsenal, will be playing the number two team, Bayern Munich, in the final.

‘Still a long way to go, but it kind of looks like that. And if Bayern keeps playing like that, I can’t see any team beating them.’

The outside noise is likely to have little impact Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta whose immediate focus will centre on achieving a positive result against Bayer Leverkusen this evening.

‘The only thing you can take is game by game and try tomorrow to be better than the opposition and earn the right to win,’ said Arteta in his pre-match press conference.

‘We always talk about that. Obviously we play so many games in different competitions.

‘In the next three games we’re going to play in three different competitions, against completely different opponents.

‘You have to adapt to that. You have to, very early in the match, understand what the game is going to require, adapt to it and be better than them.

‘This is football and you have to show it tomorrow night. I know that you have to be so clear what the game is going to demand, you need to perform on the day.

‘The Champions League is about the day and within that day there are moments, and you have to be better than the opponent.’

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