|
|||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Arsenal in Champions balancing act
![]() Henry will be looking to cause more chaos in the Real ranks at Highbury LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Manager Arsene Wenger says Arsenal will not attempt just to defend their one-goal first leg lead against Real Madrid in Wednesday's Champions League clash. "It is about finding the right balance - one goal is a good cushion, but also not much of a cushion at all," Wenger told reporters on Tuesday. "It is just a result which dictates they have to have a go at us. You cannot play 90 minutes and think 'we will just defend that goal' - the lead is just not big enough." And Wenger admitted: "We are not specialists at hanging-on. "I believe the first job is to defend well against a team like Real Madrid. But the second part of that job is that we want to give some problems and to score goals." Arsenal surprisingly dominated the first leg of the knockout round tie, won courtesy of a Thierry Henry special, after Real gave the London side room to play their passing game. Wenger will not say whether he will adopt a 4-5-1 formation, with Henry as lone striker, that worked so effectively in the first leg in Madrid. "We have a system which is very flexible because Jose Antonio Reyes can play as the second striker, or can play as a winger. "I am still not completely decided on that, because Madrid may change their system as well, and we may adapt a little bit to their system." Wenger says a positive result against Madrid will prove Arsenal's critics wrong after a disappointing league season. "I am convinced we are improving, and tomorrow is another big opportunity to show it. But at Arsenal, just reaching the Champions League quarterfinal would not be enough. "We want to achieve more. I believe it will be something which will help the team to grow, and that is very important at the moment." Theo Walcott will again be on the bench although Wenger will not be afraid to use the teeneage winger. Walcott has yet to play for Arsenal following his transfer from Southampton in January. He could be the second youngest player to appear in the Champions League. "I will not be scared to throw him on if it is needed because he shows good qualities in training. I put him there because, if I feel it is needed, I will send him on."
| | |||||||||||||||||||||
| © 2007 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. Site Map. |
|