http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-c38429 manager Arsene Wenger places Barcelona as favourites
Arsenal’s manager Arsene Wenger has gone on to place Barcelona as favourites to win the away-leg at Camp Nou in two weeks time. The manager made these claims despite the fact that his side picked up a historic win over the Catalans at home, as the team out-scored
the Spanish club by two goals to one.
The manager is also clearly delighted by the fact that his side showed great character and determination in picking up the win. The team went 1-0 down to a http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-Villa-c10629 goal in the first half, but managed to show great heart and determination to stay in the
game. The team then went on to stun and shock the away crowd by turning the one goal deficit around and scoring two goals in the last fifteen minutes of the game.
This win was also personal for the Gunners, as they were going into the game having lost by four goals to one, last season when these sides met.
Following the spectacular victory, Wenger said, "I am highly delighted. It was a special football night. The game promised a lot and fulfilled that promise. It was two exceptional teams who tried always to be positive. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 are still favourites. We
know now that we can beat them, though. Tonight gives us a chance to go to Barcelona with belief. Every game is difficult but we will prepare well and be highly focused."
One of the most impressive things about the Arsenal squad on the night was the composure that the team showed. This was not only the case for some of the senior players on the side, but the fact that http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Laurent-Koscielny-c21742 put in, what were
their best performances to date.
Koscielny during the entire ninety minutes, played flawlessly. The player’s timing, ability to read the game and interceptions were quite brilliant and showed everyone just what Wenger saw in the player when he signed him.
Wilshere has managed to hit a class of his own. The player not only won the Man of the Match award last night, but also showed just how good he really is. Despite Cesc Fabregas also being on the pitch, Wilshere was playing as both the defensive mid-fielder
and the play-maker. It was the players brilliant first time long ball that made the first goal possible for the home side. At only nineteen years old, Wilshere showed maturity way beyond his years, when it came to ball control and getting in between the players.
It became close to impossible for the player to lose the ball.
It would be harsh to take anything away from the player for his drastic improvement over the last year, but at the same time it would be wrong not to credit Wenger for the players’ tremendous improvement.
If the duo of Wilshere and Koscielny, along with the rest of the Gunners squad can manage to put in the same performance a fortnight from now, then they might just pick up the win over the tournament favourites. It will be exciting to watch these two exhilarating
teams battle it out on the pitch.
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