Wenger - Barca tie is 50-50

Wenger: Hopeful of beating Barcelona

It will be an interesting, exciting game two ties we have to make sure we have the belief and focus right

. Wenger on facing Barcelona
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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes his side's UEFA Champions League clash with Barcelona will be a 50-50 encounter.

The Gunners' clash with the holders is arguably the pick of the quarter-final ties with Arsenal hosting the Spanish titans at Emirates Stadium in the first leg before making the trip to Camp Nou for the return game.

Barcelona are favourites to win this season's competition, but Wenger believes his young side have a good chance of knocking out the holders.

"I believe we will not be favourites but for me it will be a 50-50 game," said Wenger. "That's how we have to take it.

"Of course they are a good side, so are we.

"It will be an interesting, exciting game, two ties where we have to make sure we have the belief and focus right.

"When you get to the quarter-finals of the Champions League you play good teams and Barcelona is a good team and that's it."

Focus

Wenger, meanwhile, has called on his side to put the Barcelona clash on the backburner and focus on Saturday's game with West Ham as they battle for the Premier League title.

"For the rest I believe it is much more important to focus on the West Ham game than the Barcelona draw," added Wenger.

"We have fought since August for the championship and it is important we keep our mind on what is vital to us - that is the championship, then we can go into the Champions League with the right belief.

"The West Ham game is the next game, and in football the next game makes your life.

"If we speak about West Ham instead of speaking about Barcelona, that is where we can show we have matured and that we are intelligent."