• Champions League

Wenger calls for career-defining comeback

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hopes his players will produce a performance which will define their careers and turn around a 3-1 deficit to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Bayern's home defensive record is formidable and have not conceded three since losing to Inter Milan two years ago, while this season they have let in only 10 goals in 25 Bundesliga matches.

"I am convinced that if this team can find a big game, with a big win, you will see a completely different animal. This season we have fought to find that in the big games and we have another opportunity tomorrow night and I hope the team takes this chance,'' Wenger said at the Allianz Arena.

"I have a great respect for this team and its attitude and they have not been rewarded yet. It is important for the end to our season that we do it tomorrow.''

Despite everything seemingly stacked against them, Wenger insists it is not over yet.

He said: "It is a difficult task, we know that, but we think it is not impossible. The only way to make it possible is to have a real go and play at our best tomorrow night, that is what we will do.

"I am confident we will be completely focused and up for it, and give it our best shot. Football is football - everything is possible.''

Wenger has to make do without Jack Wilshere and also decided to leave No.1 goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny in London, and is likely to hand a first start in more than a year to Lukasz Fabianski.

"He has played many games since the start of the season and recently I felt that mentally it affected him, that is why I have decided to rest him,'' the Gunners boss said.

"(He has been affected) by the number of games he has played. It is his second season only in the Premier League and he has played many games.

"I am always confident before the game that the guy who plays is ready. The players who start our games have no excuse of not being fit or ready. If I decide to play them it is because they are ready.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.