Arsenal players urged to tackle Barca squarely

Arsene Wenger has challenged Arsenal to prove they have what it takes to win the Champions League when they meet favourites Barcelona in the last 16
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Arsenal lost to Barca in the quarterfinals last season but the Gunners boss says his side are now better equipped.

“We are highly motivated to show we are a different team today,” said Wenger ahead of Wednesday’s first leg in London.

“Barcelona are the best team in the world. If you knock them out you have a good chance to win the competition.”

Arsenal are still awaiting a first victory over the Catalan giants having lost three and drawn two of their five previous encounters.

Wenger’s men held Barca at the Nou Camp in the 1999/2000 group stage before losing 4-2 in the return at Wembley.

“In the first half of the home game last year we were spectators and a little bit inhibited. Now I believe we are a completely different team,” Wenger said.

Pep Guardiola’s team produced a devastating first-half display at the Emirates Stadium but Arsenal held firm and, despite falling 2-0 behind early in the second, they fought back to secure a 2-2 draw.

The Gunners, missing several key players, took a surprise lead in the second leg but Barca’s class soon told and Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as they ran out 4-1 winners (6-3 on aggregate).

“Last year they were the better team but I believe in my players, they have the quality 100 per cent to do it,” stated Wenger.

“In the first half of the home game we were spectators and a little bit inhibited. Now I believe we are a completely different team.”

“Losing to Barcelona made us better because we came out of the second game with a lot of frustrations after missing the turning point when we were 1-0 up.”

“But more than looking at the past we want to show how good we are. We want to win this competition, we know we face the super-favourites but the only way to do it is to knock them out.

“The players don’t deny the quality of Barcelona. What is important is to say ‘look who we are now, we are capable of knocking you out now’. That is our target.”

Arsenal arrive fresh from a commanding victory over Wolves that kept them second in the Premier League, while they also remain in contention for the FA Cup and will contest the Carling Cup final on 27 February.