Arsenal Prepare To Attack
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger insists attack will be the best form of defence for his side in their Champions League semi-final, second leg in Villarreal.
Arsenal hold a lead 1-0 as they bid to reach the Champions League final for the first time in their history.
And Wenger said: “We must play to win the game. I don’t think they will score three. Let’s try to score and that will be a big blow to them.
“You cannot go into a game 1-0 up thinking you can just rely on that.”
Wenger is wary of the threat posed by Villarreal playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme as well as the atmosphere his players will have to deal with at the compact El Madrigal stadium.
“We have shown character against Juventus and Real Madrid and we need it again,” added the Frenchman.
“It will be a more intimidating atmosphere because it is a small stadium and therefore I feel the heat will be higher.”
“They will play the same way but will be less timid and Riquelme will be more influential. He shows more personality, character and decisiveness at home.”
Arsenal are currently fifth in the Premiership behind Tottenham and, if they end the season in that position, they will only qualify for next season’s Champions League by winning this year’s competition.
Wenger was involved in a row with Spurs boss Martin Jol when the two teams drew 1-1 on Saturday but the Highbury boss insists he is calm as he prepares his side for their game in Spain.
“I feel quite relaxed, contrary to the impression I gave, because I trust my team completely,” said Wenger.
Wenger is without central defender Philippe Senderos for the game and will bring in Sol Campbell as his replacement.
Campbell walked out on his team at half-time against West Ham on 1 February and broke his nose in his comeback game against Portsmouth on 12 April.
But Wenger said: “There’s no better opportunity for him to come back and show his strengths than in a semi-final where you know you will have to defend well.”
“I trust his quality and his strengths. The players trust him as well.”
“Sol was our central defender when we went 49 games unbeaten and that’s why everybody still has complete confidence in Sol.”
“I agree that he has shown a weakness in his life on that day - but that can happen to anybody and everybody in our team is capable of understanding that.”
