Tuesday, 6 December 2011

AW 200th Champions League Match Tonight! AW "It is an impressive number because 200 games usually make a whole career. It's a privilege, over the years we have won everywhere. Only place we didn't win is Barca. We’ve won in Madrid, Milan, Rome, Germany, France! If I had the money I’d sign Neymar! We look more mature now! RVP learnt the art of scoring like Henry!” Frimpong, Mertesacker talk!



  • Wenger is proud to be on the verge of another milestone in his long Arsenal reign, having managed the team in 199 European games.
He will complete a double century against Olympiakos and hopes the Gunners can go on to mark the occasion with a victory.

"It is an impressive number because 200 games usually make a whole career. It's a privilege to play 200 games in Europe," said the Frenchman.

"It has meant many hotels, many planes and many big games - that is the most important thing. Now, we'll try to do well on this occasion.

"Of these 200 games in Europe, there must be about 160 in the Champions League. That is at the highest level and it's been a fantastic experience.

"We've had many highlights because over the years we have won everywhere.

"Maybe the only place we didn't win is Barcelona. We have won in Madrid, Milan, Rome, Germany, France.

"We have won everywhere. That means Arsenal is remembered well all over Europe as a strong club.

"I'm always learning. You're always learning about Europe. Alex Ferguson has even more experience than I have and you can see that it's difficult in Europe to win every single game."
  • Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger feels his team is now coming together after victory at Wigan Athletic.
The likes of Mikel Arteta, Andre Santos and Per Mertesacker were all drafted in at the end of the transfer window and Wenger feels they have had a calming influence.

“We look more mature, I must say,” he said. “You can feel that in the difficult moments of the game where we don't panic and don't give stupid goals away. That's very pleasing.

“It was important to win straight away again. In the Premier League we are consistent. I couldn't fault the performance against Manchester City and we came back with a strong performance. It's important we don't drop too many points.”

  • Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Robin van Persie - like Thierry Henry - has had to learn the art of goal scoring.

For the Gunners legends, Wenger says it has been nurture more than nature.

“They have similarities, Thierry and Robin,” he said.

“At the start they are not goal scorers, they are football players who you expect to create something special. You do not think they have to score so many goals, they added that to their game.

“Someone like Alan Shearer was a goal scorer first but they are more link players Robin van Persie and Thierry Henry. They are creative players and not just on the end of things.

“Even at the start of the season, people ask ‘why is Robin playing centre forward, he is not a centre forward’. But both have the intelligence to be in the right place at the right moment.”
  • Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger feels Real Madrid and Barcelona are clear Champions League favourites.
Wenger's own team have been hugely impressive in Europe - winning five and drawing two of their seven matches thus far - but the Frenchman knows Arsenal are no more than dark horses right now.

"At the moment I would say in Europe there are two super favourites – Barcelona and Real Madrid," he said. "Behind them, everyone else can hope to win it and we will try to win.

"At the moment we are not one of the favourites but one advantage we have is that we have finished top of our group.

"From now it becomes a cup competition. The Champions League becomes different when you go in the last 16, it is more open. You need a bit of luck in the draw and you need to have your players available in the two games."
  • Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger can understand the motivation behind Robin van Persie's stunning form.
Having been sidelined in previous seasons, Wenger knows his captain is revelling in his new-found opportunity.

“When you see the player that arrived and the player he is today then you have to give him a lot of credit,” the manager said. “His transformation has been exceptional. 

“We have all played football because we wanted to enjoy it. He is a football lover. He watches tapes and knows all about the game. 

Then he wants to be on the pitch. Maybe he has been so frustrated by being out so many times that he rates what a chance it is to play for Arsenal.

“He has had an outstanding season so let’s hope we can keep him fit. He has played I think 48 games in the calendar year. That is the most he has played.

“He is talented and now he is the leader of the Club. At a club like Arsenal that is not easy and he does it remarkably well.”
  • Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is happy to hand Emmanuel Frimpong a start against Champions League opponents Olympiakos.
Wenger has no doubts Frimpong has the strength of character to come through Tuesday's encounter.

"He is a guy you know you can go to war with him, he has a real winner attitude," the Arsenal manager said.

"Now for him it is to take the final step and get a regular place in the Arsenal team."

Wenger added: "He was massively impressive before he got injured, because he had been outstanding in pre-season.

"He struggled to come back and feels he is not completely back to his best, but I think he is - what Manu needs now are competitive games."
  • Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker is happy with the way the team is now bedding down.
Mertesacker says the Gunners’ backline is gelling as a unit after coming together only after the campaign had begun.

“We try our best in every match,” he said. “We didn't have a pre-season together and we have had to get our form together and trust each other in the games.

“We are in the last 16 in the Champions League and are in a good position in the Premier League and we want to keep on going like that.

“At the beginning [of Saturday’s game] Wigan tried to close us down a lot and it was very difficult for us,” he added.

“They had a good tempo and a good speed in their game. Therefore we were careful and did a great job in the final third.”
  • Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong is excited to be starting against Champions League opponents Olympiakos.
Frimpong has battled his way back to fitness following a serious knee injury.

The 19-year-old is relishing another opportunity to stake his claim for a regular first team place in what is set to be a white-hot atmosphere at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium.

"This is why you are playing for Arsenal, because you are used to dealing with this kind of stuff," said Ghana-born Frimpong, who came to England when he was eight and was brought up nearTottenham.

"When you are a professional footballer, you want to play in those kind of stadiums and environments.

"Tomorrow is going to be a test of character, not only for me but for others and we have to deal with it."

Frimpong admits there were times during his rehabilitation when doubts crept in over whether he would have a future with the Gunners.

"I knew I would come back to playing football, but felt I was never going to get my chance at Arsenal again."
  • Arsenal goalkeeper James Shea has ended his loan at Dagenham & Redbridge.
Shea has been recalled from his loan spell at Dagenham & Redbridge.

James joined the League Two outfit on a season-long loan at the start of the 2011/12 campaign, but has found his first-team chances at Victoria Road limited to just four appearances.

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