• Champions League

Wenger praises his side's 'special strength'

ESPN staff
February 16, 2011
Arsene Wenger celebrates with Robin van Persie after the Dutchman's equaliser © PA Photos
Enlarge

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger praised his side's 'special strength' and fitness after watching them come from behind to beat Barcelona 2-1 in the first leg of their Champions League tie.

Goals from Robin van Persie and Andrei Arshavin cancelled out David Villa's first-half opener for the visitors, ensuring the Gunners will head to Camp Nou with a slender advantage. After the match, Wenger pinpointed his side's superior fitness and collective attitude as the key reasons for the success.

"They dropped a little bit physically and we didn't, and in the end that was the difference," Wenger said. "We scored as well two special goals. One individual skill, from Robin van Persie, and the second more of the collective build-up - so it was two special goals.

" I feel as well when you are manager you are always on the verge of collapsing against this team [Barcelona], if you even drop a bit in attitude. You have to be mentally resilient and we were resilient tonight."

Having grabbed a 2-2 draw in similar circumstances last season when the two sides met in the quarter-finals, Arsenal were subjected to a Lionel Messi-led evisceration in the second leg in Spain. Wenger doesn't expect that to be the case this time around, however, believing his team to have shown they are stronger, more determined characters.

"We never gave up, we just kept going and strong and you could feel the team wanted to go until the end - as long as they could - and they have shown special strength," Wenger said. "I don't know how big the chance is [of winning], but I am convinced of one thing - the team will give absolutely everything to achieve it.

"We will go there to win, and it will be a big boost to the team to know that we can beat Barcelona and you can see that we are a different team, mentally more mature.

"It is exciting."

Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola felt his team were in control for large periods.

"It was a fantastic game (with) many, many chances for both teams,'' Guardiola said. "We created more chances than last year. It's a pity, but we knew they're a very, very good team. On the counter-attack they're dangerous. But we have the second leg.''

He added: "They are a tough, tough team, but we dominated and more or less took control of the game. It was more or less the same as last season.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices