Arsenal vs Barca preview: Wenger challenges his players to deliver a classic

Arsene Wenger has challenged his players to make history after promising to stick to his footballing principles and deliver a classic against Barcelona.

Wenger claimed he wants tonight’s Champions League showdown to be like a work of art as Europe’s best footballing teams collide at the Emirates.

Gunners boss Wenger believes his young Arsenal side can come of age by beating the reigning European champions and insisted they will not be intimidated by Barcelona.

Wenger said: “I believe that when you do something, whether it be writing, dancing, or playing football, if you do it at the best level it becomes art. Because what is art? It is something that is always good to watch.

“It is still a long way to go in this competition of course, but we can make history in kicking Barcelona out and that’s an opportunity we have.

“I believe the most important is that we know we play against a great team but it’s to make sure that we turn up with our best performance.

“And that we are not too much in respect of them but have a go. That we are brave and have a real go, that we express our strengths.

“I believe that the team is on a great run, has a great spirit, a great togetherness. The ingredients are there to deliver something special, let’s go for it tomorrow.”

Wenger even pulled a face and admitted his disgust when it was put to him whether Arsenal would ever consider kicking Barcelona’s World Player of the Year Lionel Messi out of the game.

That is not in Wenger’s nature and the Arsenal manager remembered painfully the 2006 Champions League final when keeper Jens Lehmann was sent off after just 18 minutes and Barcelona went on to win the 2006 final in Paris.

Arsenal also won their last trophy, the 2005 FA Cup, after ditching their usual attacking philosophy to frustrate Manchester United and win after a penalty shoot-out.

But Wenger yesterday spoke of his pride at being called one of the best footballing teams in Europe and seemed determined to put on a memorable advert for the beautiful game.

“If you find a player that I told he has to kick somebody off the pitch in my last 25 or 30 years I am in the job, you introduce him to me,” Wenger said. “Bring him back to me.

“I think we are two teams who try to play but I leave others to judge. I think we have a positive philosophy and people who love football will watch the game.

“Everyone is expecting it to be a great game but in the final in 2006 everybody was expecting it to be a great game and after ten minutes it was 10 against 11.

“It is difficult to predict but the intentions on both sides are positive, so it is promising that it will be a good game and I think it will be.

“I am very happy because I love football above all, I love Arsenal and for Arsenal to have this opportunity to do it tomorrow against Barcelona is fantastic. We have to enjoy it and be excited about it.

“I am confident that we can respond to the expectation of all people who love football but also our fans because they want us to do something special and we want to deliver that.

“I don’t deny their quality. They have an exceptional team but I think that we are an exceptional team as well and the form of the day, the desire, the belief, how much we play for each other will make the difference.

“We have of course to cancel their strengths but they will have the same problem. So it is how much we believe in our strengths that can make the difference on the day.

“If we produce the best performance we can we can beat any side in the world.”

Wenger is clearly in confident mood. Cesc Fabregas is the big concern for him with the Arsenal boss naming a 19 man squad with youngster Craig Eastmond on standby for the bench and Tomas Rosicky and Samir Nasri ready to reshuffle if the captain does not make it.

Fabregas is desperate to face his boyhood heroes and the team he left at 16 to join Arsenal to pursue a better chance of more regular first team football.

But that is not the only emotional reunion as former Arsenal captain Thierry Henry also returns to the Emirates for the first time since leaving in 2007.

However, Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola is expected to leave Henry out in favour of Pedro and that may signal the beginning of the end for the French striker who is a target for MLS side New York Red Bulls this summer.

Wenger added: “Henry is still a threat because he is an exceptional talent. Very intelligent talent as well. We are happy to see him back at the Emirates and he will get the warm welcome that he deserves.

“But when the game starts it will be a quarter-final of the Champions League where we will of course give everything to beat him.”

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