During his pre-match press conference this afternoon, Arsene Wenger remained in good spirits ahead of his side’s Champions League clash against AC Milan.
The Gunners will need to score at least 4 goals against the Serie A giants tomorrow night to have any chance of progressing to the quarter-finals of the competition.
About to face one of the biggest challenges ever in club football, the Gunners boss gave a brave pre-match speech, suggesting that his side may have a few surprises in store.
After losing 4-0 on the miserable night in the San Siro three weeks ago, Wenger’s men must take their chances. And while the dangerously in-form Robin van Persie is leading the line, no Arsenal fan should rule out the impossible. Arsene Wenger certainly isn’t.
“The best way is to ignore the first game and do what we did against Tottenham. We were 2-0 down and we just kept going because we wanted to win the game. That is what we want to do again tomorrow.
However, after failing to score any away goals in Milan, Wenger also admitted that his team must keep things extra tight at the back to have any chance of going through.
“We can score goals, in the last two home games we scored 12. So we know we can score goals. That is the target tomorrow.
“The target is also to find a good balance between attacking and defending because our double target is not to concede as well.
After two superb wins against Liverpool and Tottenham, Le Boss went on and assured that his side are ready for the test.
“I know my players well, I know they have been hurt by the first result and I know they have their pride. They will come out tomorrow and give a performance.
“There is a real possibility that we can go through, of course. Football is football, you know?
Unless we want to score 6 against the Rossoneri, keeping a clean sheet is vital.
Obviously we’ll have to be very clinical tomorrow night, too. On a decent turf though, our side will be able to play their game against Milan this time – and whether we take them or not, we will get chances to score.
Oddly enough, I am strangely excited for tomorrow night. Despite the fact that we have a 4-goal deficit to overturn, I’m looking forward to getting into the stadium, and once again, experiencing another Champions League night in North London.
There is, however, one thing that petrifies me. If we concede just one goal, we’ll need to score at least six of our own – against the champions of Italy. Like our entire defence too, here’s hoping Wojciech Szczesny can have another blinder and keep Ibrahimovic, Robinho, El Shaarawy – and the rest – quiet.
Even with our impressive form, we still have a huge mountain to climb. Although, seeing everyone has already accepted that we go into tomorrow’s match as huge underdogs, fills me with disheartening comfort.
Come on you Gunners.
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