Barcelona favourites but Arsenal have advantage: Arsene Wenger
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 as the favourites to win their Champions League tie but has claimed that their win on Wednesday would give them an added advantage at Nou Camp.
“We are not favourites now, but what is important is the belief that we have a chance. Barcelona are still favourites. Tonight gives us a chance to to go to Barcelona with belief. Every game is difficult but we will prepare well and be highly focused,” said
the French manager of Arsenal.
Arsene Wenger termed Wednesday’s game an extraordinary match as the Gunners managed a remarkable comeback to beat Barcelona by 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium.
Barcelona, who are favourites to win the Champions League, dominated the match and even scored the first goal of the fixture through http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-Villa-c10629 in the 26th minute.
However, in the second half, the Catalan giants started to lose control on the game thanks to the sparkling start of the Gunners. Arsenal started to dictate terms and Arshavin’s substitution totally changed the course of the match.
Arshavin contributed in the build-up of the first goal which was exceptionally scored by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Samir-Nasri-c32360 pass to seal a historic win for Arsenal.
It was Arsenal’s first-ever win over Barcelona and Arsene Wenger hailed the performance and character shown by his team that triumphed against the best side in the football world.
Arsene Wenger’s men are yet to play the second leg of this tie at Nou Camp and their last journey to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lionel-Messi-c22296 proved too difficult to handle, as the Argentinean scored four times in the 2009-10 season to end Arsenal’s Champions
League campaign.
Arsenal usually enjoy most of the ball possession in the Barclays Premier League matches- averaging more than 55 per cent per match.
However, Barcelona were able to influence their game play at Emirates and frustrated the Gunners by giving them only 40 per cent time on the ball. Arsene Wenger was impressed by the patience and composure shown by the players, and hailed his team’s versatility.
“The problem with their possession is that if you are a fraction late you are in trouble. You have to be tight with the marking and if you don't it is difficult. Usually we have the ball more than our opponents but we knew tonight that 60% of the time we
would have to be focused on them,” said Wenger.
Tags: