Friday, March 29, 2024

Arsenal believes, says Wenger

Arsene Wenger says Arsenal believe they can knock Barcelona out of the Champions League after as a ‘special football night’ at the Emirates.

Late goals from Robin van Persie and substitute Andrey Arshavin – bravely brought on by Wenger in place of defensive midfielder Alex Song – cancelled out David Villa’s 26th-minute opener to give Arsenal a 2-1 win and a narrow lead going into the second leg of the last-16 tie.

“We played against the best team in the world and we managed to beat them. They are an exceptional side and Barcelona are still the team to beat in Europe,” Wenger said.

“It’s a special lift for my team. I believe our players have shown exceptional strength and togetherness and this result will reinforce that.”

Arsenal played Barcelona in the quarter-finals last season, drawing 2-2 at the Emirates before losing 4-1 to a Lionel Messi-inspired Barca in the second leg at the Camp Nou.

Wenger believes his current squad can avoid the same fate.

“We are not favourites, but we believe we have a chance and we’ll go for it. Barca is still favourite but we know we can beat them, and we didn’t know that last year,” he said.

“This result gives us a chance to go to Barcelona with belief and I’m highly delighted. It was a special football night. The game promised a lot and absolutely fulfilled it.”

Arsenal chose not to play defensively against the Spanish champions, despite suggestions from many experts that it was the only way to beat them.

Wenger proved his determination to stick to his principles when he took off Song in the second half and replaced him with attacker Arshavin – who went on to score the winner following a sweeping break-away move.

“I took a gamble,” Wenger admitted.

“But I had to do it, we needed two goals. I’m very proud for Arsenal Football Club tonight because everybody urged us to play differently to our nature. It’s good we didn’t do that. Now this result can strengthen the belief in our philosophy and that’s most important.”

But Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola insisted his team can still go through.

“Our players have shown before their quality and we are going to try,” he said.

“But we know Arsenal are a very good team, a strong team, and we admire their quality and their style. They will attack and we will attack too. If you have nothing to do, go to Barcelona because I think it will be a good game.”

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  • cliff

    0 0

    Asnal did wel but thats wat ey olwys do. give ppl high expectations nd en disapoint wen its vital da most and this game s no exception.

  • Emmabeejay

    0 0

    DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY FOR NOW, BUT ALL I KNOW IS ITS NOT LONG ANYMORE.lets just remember, Arsenal is going to Barca’s home. OKAY THEN, WE”LL SEE.

  • messi

    0 0

    lol!!! this is barcelona we talking about………it not over yet. as “”omeri titus says””

  • Torres4life

    0 0

    Gunners can Beat no matter who ever thinks that they can’t.Arsenal are very strong from last year because they didn’t have a good finisher but now they have in the form of Van Persie.We all have seen that walcott,Nasri & Song are so much improved than last year.Wenger just needs some good tactics to go along with his squad but still Barcelona are favourites to go through.But The Gunners on their Day can beat anyone.

  • Omeri Titus

    0 0

    Do not play with even a dead lion because you may get the greatest shock of your life. What Arsenal did was just to awaken a sleeping dog. The Baca i know does not go down easily and Arsenal does not have what it takes to sustain the tempo as they often fail when the espectation is high. I’ll not be surprised if the return leg ends the way it ended the last time the two club met in camp nou. Arsenal should not be carried away by their 2:1 win over baca because their victory song will change after the return leg because they will be humiliated again. Pls help me tell Arsen Wenger that champions league is for mature men and not for boys, beg him on my behalf to sign more experienced players to boost Arsenal chances of winning trophies.

  • Adamslamidi

    0 0

    Up Gunners all arsenal fans i no arsenal will gunshort barca down by grace of God

  • WISDOM

    0 0

    Gunners have all what it takes to beat barca in the second leg,all the best for them.

  • kelvinno

    0 0

    wonderful! wonderful!! wonderfull!!! The Arsenal team of yesternight will win trophies if the desire keeps burning. I love gunners but i am not an Arsenal fan. I pray God help them come next three weeks

  • kx

    0 0

    It is a good result for Arsenal, but Arsene believes to stick to his philosophy. Is this includes his philosophy of not making important transfer?

  • kx

    0 0

    It is a good result for Arsenal, but Arsene believes to stick to his philosophy. Is this includes his philosophy of not making important transfer?

  • kelvinno

    0 0

    wonderful! wonderful!! wonderfull!!! The Arsenal team of yesternight will win trophies if the desire keeps burning. I love gunners but i am not an Arsenal fan. I pray God help them come next three weeks

  • WISDOM

    0 0

    Gunners have all what it takes to beat barca in the second leg,all the best for them.

  • Adamslamidi

    0 0

    Up Gunners all arsenal fans i no arsenal will gunshort barca down by grace of God

  • Omeri Titus

    0 0

    Do not play with even a dead lion because you may get the greatest shock of your life. What Arsenal did was just to awaken a sleeping dog. The Baca i know does not go down easily and Arsenal does not have what it takes to sustain the tempo as they often fail when the espectation is high. I’ll not be surprised if the return leg ends the way it ended the last time the two club met in camp nou. Arsenal should not be carried away by their 2:1 win over baca because their victory song will change after the return leg because they will be humiliated again. Pls help me tell Arsen Wenger that champions league is for mature men and not for boys, beg him on my behalf to sign more experienced players to boost Arsenal chances of winning trophies.

  • Torres4life

    0 0

    Gunners can Beat no matter who ever thinks that they can’t.Arsenal are very strong from last year because they didn’t have a good finisher but now they have in the form of Van Persie.We all have seen that walcott,Nasri & Song are so much improved than last year.Wenger just needs some good tactics to go along with his squad but still Barcelona are favourites to go through.But The Gunners on their Day can beat anyone.

  • messi

    0 0

    lol!!! this is barcelona we talking about………it not over yet. as “”omeri titus says””

  • Emmabeejay

    0 0

    DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY FOR NOW, BUT ALL I KNOW IS ITS NOT LONG ANYMORE.lets just remember, Arsenal is going to Barca’s home. OKAY THEN, WE”LL SEE.

  • cliff

    0 0

    Asnal did wel but thats wat ey olwys do. give ppl high expectations nd en disapoint wen its vital da most and this game s no exception.

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