Soccer

Arsène Wenger believes total focus is the key against Barca

‘No team is perfect. Barcelona are not far from it’

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger prepares his team to play against Barcelona in the Champions League round-of-16. Video: Reuters
Mon Feb 22 2016 - 14:28

Arsène Wenger believes that total focus and ruthlessness will be absolutely key if Arsenal are to take a positive result away from the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie against Barcelona.

The Arsenal manager said: “We have to find the right balance between being audacious but also strong defensively as a unit and not put ourselves in a difficult task in the second leg.

“No team is perfect. Barcelona are not far from it. We need to take our chances. Barcelona are super favourites, we need to raise the urgency level. Tomorrow everybody is convinced we need to absolutely be totally focused to have a chance.”

On the threat posed by the attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar, Wenger said: "They are the most efficient [strike force in the world]. Messi scored 300 goals in 340 games, I've seen many strikers in my life but I've never seen a record like that. They are top, top class.

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“I know that individually Messi, Suárez and Neymar have exceptional talent; the only way we can beat them is collectively. Resilience, great solidarity, intelligent as well, let’s not forget that we have a good defensive record and a great goalkeeper as well. They have a team who can score at any moment, even when dominated.”

Wenger also said that preparing to face the European champions was an easier task than readying his squad to face Championship opponents. “It is more difficult to prepare against Hull than Barcelona,” he said.

The Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud spoke of his belief that the team are capable of anything after coming back from the brink to qualify for the last 16. "Why not win this game? We have the quality for that. They are favourites but we have a good quality and quantity this year even if we have a lot of injuries. We did well during a tough moment in the Autumn and we have players back so we are very happy with that.

“We did well to qualify, it was very hard, we are looking forward to playing Barcelona, they are the best team in the world today. It will be different from Bayern, we just need to focus and be 100% together with good cohesion and we will put what we need in this game with a lot of commitment and determination.”

(Guardian service)