Arsenal's Wenger dreams of Champions League

Arsenal may be struggling to stay in the Champions League by finishing within the top four in the Premier League this season but manager Arsene Wenger still dreams of becoming the kings of Europe as they prepare to face Milan at San Siro in the first leg of the round of 16 on Wednesday night.

Wenger's team and Chelsea are the only English clubs left in the competition with Manchester United and cash-rich Manchester City missing out.

Arsenal return to the stadium in which they triumphed four years ago to eliminate the then holders Milan. The Gunners last reached the semi-finals three years ago and have not been to the final since 2006, the only time in their history they have reached that stage.

But Wenger believes that his Arsenal team can still win the Champions League in the first knockout round with this and the FA Cup their only realistic hope of a first trophy since 2005.

He said: "We are concentrated on every game we play. We do not choose the games. We are Arsenal Football Club and we just try to win the next game. Is it FA Cup, Champions League or Premier League? I believe it is important we are strong everywhere.

"If I would think we have no chance to win the game I would stay at home. I don't like to waste my time and I believe that is what makes football interesting is that you can win everywhere. We have shown we can win everywhere and I have full confidence in this team that we can do it."

Indeed Wenger has turned around the fortunes of the club after a catastrophic start to the season when they were thrashed 8-2 by Manchester United with the summer departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri hitting the club badly.

Dutch international Robin van Persie has almost single-handedly salvaged the pride of the club by emerging as the top Premier League goalscorer this season.

A raft of injuries to key players has compounded the misery at Emirates especially in defence with a decision to be made on Wednesday morning on whether to throw Kieran Gibbs straight back into action for the first time since October 16.

Per Mertesacker is out with an ankle ligament injury that has ruled him out for a month while Wenger urged patience on the rehabilitation of Jack Wilshere from a stress fracture to his ankle.

It remains to be seen whether on-loan Thierry Henry makes it a memorable occasion in his final game for Arsenal before returning to New York Red Bulls.

"I am very sad to see him going," the manager said. "I wanted to keep him for two weeks longer but I accepted this agreement at the start. We didn't expect him to be so important for us when he signed but he grew into the team very quickly and his talent on the pitch is still much sharper than I expected it to be after having been out in the States."

Asked if Henry, who has scored two goals since returning to the club, could make a winning contribution in Milan, Wenger replied: "He can do it again. If needed, he can help us, especially on a territory where he will be highly motivated."

His team have recovered somewhat from their worst start to a season in 58 years, but there is still a long way to go.

"When we played here I think Milan won the European Cup the year before and we knocked them out," said Wenger.
 

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