Wenger out to upset the odds

Gunners boss to release the shackles against cup holders

Last updated: 19th February 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Wenger out to upset the odds

Wenger: Eyeing an upset

Related links

Teams

Also see

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes his side can upset the odds and knock Milan out of the UEFA Champions League.

The Gunners welcome Milan to Emirates Stadium on Wednesday for the first leg of their last 16 Champions League clash - a match which can be seen live on Sky Sports 2 - before making the return trip to the San Siro on 4th March.

Milan - the current European Cup holders - are favourites to progress to the quarter-finals but Wenger feels his Premier League leaders can 'play without the handbrake' and cause a shock.

"Milan are the Champions League holders," said Wenger. "They have quality and experience.

Challenge

"We are a team who can challenge them and can beat them but we all know we need to be at our best to beat them.

"What is important is that we play without the handbrake on and go into the match with desire.

"We have to play free of pressure and I believe we will do that. We can express our talents in a game of this magnitude. I believe we will do that."

And Wenger believes Saturday's 4-0 FA Cup thrashing at the hands of Manchester United will spur his side on in upsetting Milan.

Massive targets

"Elimination on Saturday clarifies things very well. The targets in front of us are massive, but they're in front of us," Wenger added. "We are in a very good position. Now it's down to quality.

"We are playing against the best. Milan have shown they have a great record in this competition and they are consistent in this competition, so this is a good chance to show our quality.

"We first of all owe everybody a good performance - and the fans most of all. They were magnificent in Manchester.

"I believe as well that our players, throughout the season, have given a lot of joy to our fans."