Arsenal look for repeat show
11 March 2014 6:20 AM IST
Wenger’s side go to Munich’s Allianz Arena needing to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg at the Emirates Stadium three weeks ago.
Arsenal bowed out of Europe to the same opponents at the same stage last season, but not before enjoying a shock 2-0 win in Munich’s after losing 3-1 at home to Bayern.
The Bavarian giants only went through on away goals before going on to win the Wembley final and Wenger said it’s all about belief again for his side in Bavaria.
‘We have to go out there and go for it,’ said Wenger. ‘I am confident we can produce a stunning result. ‘It is down to scoring the first goal. After that, anything is possible. ‘This time last year we went there and won 2-0, so we can take confidence from that. ‘It is never over in this game. We will go there with belief that we can do it.’
The Gunners enjoyed a confidence-boosting 4-1 FA Cup quarter-final win over Everton on Saturday and Wenger said attitude will be the key if his side are to reach the last eight in Europe. ‘It is difficult statistically, but in football we have seen worse things,’ said the Frenchman.
‘What is important is that we are in good shape mentally.’ Arsenal find themselves seven points behind Chelsea in the Premier League table, albeit with a game in hand, and have been guilty of erratic form recently.
In 14 matches since the start of 2014, they have won nine, drawn two and lost three, including a humiliating 5-1 league defeat at Liverpool on February 8. Wenger has a few injury concerns with Laurent Koscielny doubtful after missing the victory over Everton.
Buoyant Bayern have no such worries and welcomed back France winger Franck Ribery, Swiss star Xherdan Shaqiri and Germany’s Thomas Mueller in Saturday’s 6-1 rout of Wolfsburg.
espite their Wolves romp, Bayern boss Pep Guardiola has said his team can ill afford to allow Arsenal the same first-half chances which Wolfsburg enjoyed.
‘If we give Arsenal too much possession, we will have big, big problems,’ warned Guardiola, who rested Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger in Wolfsburg. ‘If we keep the ball, we’ll get into the quarterfinals, if they control it, Arsenal will go through.’
Atletico madrid out to finish job against Milan
MADRID: Atletico Madrid are looking to book their place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the first time since 1997 when they host AC Milan at the Vicente Calderon on Tuesday.
The Spanish side hold a 1-0 advantage from the first leg three weeks ago thanks to Diego Costa’s late winner at the San Siro. Atletico coach Diego Simeone will be confident of building on their lead as they have been beaten only once in 22 home games this season.
Both sides continued their contrasting fortunes in domestic competition this season at the weekend as Atletico briefly retook top spot in La Liga with a 2-0 win away to Celta Vigo. Milan, meanwhile, rested a number of their star names in a 1-0 defeat to Udinese.
Diego Simeone believes Villa’s experience of challenging for titles will be key for his side in the decisive last few months of the season.
‘He lives for scoring goals, he is a specialist in that. He has a precision and decisiveness in front of goal that has marked his career,’ he told the club’s website.
AC Milan’s Adel Taarabt is expected to start in attack and the Moroccan playmaker believes the seven-time European champions can take encouragement from their performance in the first leg.
‘On Tuesday we’ve got no fear about taking on Atletico. They’re a strong side, they’re second in the Spanish league, but the Champions League is different.’
Arsenal bowed out of Europe to the same opponents at the same stage last season, but not before enjoying a shock 2-0 win in Munich’s after losing 3-1 at home to Bayern.
The Bavarian giants only went through on away goals before going on to win the Wembley final and Wenger said it’s all about belief again for his side in Bavaria.
‘We have to go out there and go for it,’ said Wenger. ‘I am confident we can produce a stunning result. ‘It is down to scoring the first goal. After that, anything is possible. ‘This time last year we went there and won 2-0, so we can take confidence from that. ‘It is never over in this game. We will go there with belief that we can do it.’
The Gunners enjoyed a confidence-boosting 4-1 FA Cup quarter-final win over Everton on Saturday and Wenger said attitude will be the key if his side are to reach the last eight in Europe. ‘It is difficult statistically, but in football we have seen worse things,’ said the Frenchman.
‘What is important is that we are in good shape mentally.’ Arsenal find themselves seven points behind Chelsea in the Premier League table, albeit with a game in hand, and have been guilty of erratic form recently.
In 14 matches since the start of 2014, they have won nine, drawn two and lost three, including a humiliating 5-1 league defeat at Liverpool on February 8. Wenger has a few injury concerns with Laurent Koscielny doubtful after missing the victory over Everton.
Buoyant Bayern have no such worries and welcomed back France winger Franck Ribery, Swiss star Xherdan Shaqiri and Germany’s Thomas Mueller in Saturday’s 6-1 rout of Wolfsburg.
espite their Wolves romp, Bayern boss Pep Guardiola has said his team can ill afford to allow Arsenal the same first-half chances which Wolfsburg enjoyed.
‘If we give Arsenal too much possession, we will have big, big problems,’ warned Guardiola, who rested Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger in Wolfsburg. ‘If we keep the ball, we’ll get into the quarterfinals, if they control it, Arsenal will go through.’
Atletico madrid out to finish job against Milan
MADRID: Atletico Madrid are looking to book their place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the first time since 1997 when they host AC Milan at the Vicente Calderon on Tuesday.
The Spanish side hold a 1-0 advantage from the first leg three weeks ago thanks to Diego Costa’s late winner at the San Siro. Atletico coach Diego Simeone will be confident of building on their lead as they have been beaten only once in 22 home games this season.
Both sides continued their contrasting fortunes in domestic competition this season at the weekend as Atletico briefly retook top spot in La Liga with a 2-0 win away to Celta Vigo. Milan, meanwhile, rested a number of their star names in a 1-0 defeat to Udinese.
Diego Simeone believes Villa’s experience of challenging for titles will be key for his side in the decisive last few months of the season.
‘He lives for scoring goals, he is a specialist in that. He has a precision and decisiveness in front of goal that has marked his career,’ he told the club’s website.
AC Milan’s Adel Taarabt is expected to start in attack and the Moroccan playmaker believes the seven-time European champions can take encouragement from their performance in the first leg.
‘On Tuesday we’ve got no fear about taking on Atletico. They’re a strong side, they’re second in the Spanish league, but the Champions League is different.’
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