Arsene Wenger hails Andrei Arshavin gamble
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hailed the extraordinary performance of his team against Barcelona in the Champions League round-of-16 fixture and said his gamble of bringing on http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Andrei-Arshavin-c5771 brought fruitful results for the side.
History was created on Wednesday when the north London giants of the Barclays Premier League came from behind to clinch their first-ever win against Barcelona.
Arshavin was brought on in the second half to replace http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Robin-van-Persie-c31380 and then he scored his side’s second goal in the
82nd minute to seal a historic win for the Gunners.
Wenger said, “I wanted to really go for it. I took a gamble and we finished with Wilshere, Fabregas, Nasri, Bendtner, Arshavin and Van Persie. The tie is still open but we will go to the Nou Camp and play our game again because you cannot go there and defend.
My gamble could have back-fired and we could lost 2-0 or 3-0 - but it worked.”
The French manager of the Gunners added that he was proud of his team’s performance when they beat Champions League title favourites Barcelona. He added that their 2-1 win has increased their chances of getting a positive result in the second leg of the
tie at Nou Camp.
The Gunners were outshined by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lionel-Messi-c22296 at Nou Camp in the 2009-10 season, when the FIFA Player of the Year scored four times to end Arsenal’s Champions League glory dream.
Arsenal manager also admitted that it would be hard for his team to get a result at Nou Camp but claimed that the Gunners would put in their best to clinch a win over the Catalan Giants.
“This result gives us a chance to go to Barcelona with belief. We know it will be a very difficult game but we will prepare well. We will be highly focused and we go to win. It is a special lift for my team. Our players have shown exceptional strength and
togetherness,” said the Frenchman.
Barcelona, who are in a brilliant form, scored the first goal of the match through http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-Villa-c10629 in the 26th minute. The Catalans were dominating the game by enjoying most of the possession. But Arsenal’s terrific start of the second half put Barcelona
on the back track and totally changed the course of the game.
Wenger tipped Barcelona as the favourites for the second leg of the tie but claimed that his side has a chance against the Catalans at Nou Camp.
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