Dutchman looking forward to Champions League clash at the Emirates this week.
Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben claims that the Arsenal team the Bavarians will take on in the Champions League next week are nothing like the side he played against during his time in the Premier League with Chelsea.
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The Bundesliga giants travel to north London on Tuesday for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash, with the 29-year-old saying that he can understand the current frustration of the Gunners fans.
“I can understand it, the disappointment. Eight years without a trophy is a very, very long time,” Robben told the Daily Telegraph.
“If you look to the team who won the trophies – with [Thierry] Henry and [Dennis] Bergkamp – they had a great side, with [Patrick] Vieira, and they also played nice football. They’re still a team you can enjoy because every time they try to play some nice football, but I can also understand the fans because they want some trophies.”
And the Netherlands international also spoke about his international team-mate Robin van Persie’s departure from the Emirates last summer to Manchester United, saying: “I think in the end for the real Arsenal supporters it was a shame, it was very disappointing that he left the club. But on the other hand everybody understands his choice, that he also wants to win titles, and at Arsenal at the moment it’s going to be very difficult.
“It’s very difficult for me to really judge this situation. But I mean if you see there are always players leaving – and when they leave at that moment they are the most important players or the best players – and if you keep losing these players, then every time you have to try to build up again. Mr Wenger has shown he can do it. He’s a great manager. He’s shown it by improving young players. But the trophies are also important.”
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