Both Premier League and Champions League are getting hotter as we are getting into their conclusion. While English topflight is all about securing a place among the top four, in UEFA tourney, everyone wants to at least secure a place in the quarterfinals and those sides who have not been good in domestic leagues try to coup up their domestic loss by securing a quarterfinal place in the Champions League. Arsenal is one such side who is fighting hard to keep a tight hold over its third leaderboard position in the premier league amid severe threat from both Manchester United and Liverpool. Likewise, Arsene Wenger is also focused to enter into the knockout round in UEFA Championship where they could never be a contender since 2009-10. Hence, Wenger is confident his side would make a history by overshadowing Monaco and make their road clear for the quarterfinals. However, if we look at the stats, no side has ever entered into the quarterfinals after losing home first leg but Wenger is determined to break that taboo by surprising Monaco despite the home record of French side where they did not contain a single goal in their last three games played at Stade Louis II.
Supplementing his exaggerated claims 65-year-old Frenchman said, “The statistics are against us. The result in the first leg is against us. We are conscious about that. But no matter how big the percentage is, we have to give absolutely everything to make the stats lie — that is our desire and belief that we can do it.
“We want to give everything to have the greatest performance on the pitch. If we did not believe we could do it, we would not be here.”
The regained confidence of the English mentor could also tripled if Olivier Giroud, who missed several opportunities in the first leg game, recollects his known form in the last leg, and for this reason, Arsenal could be looking on the next game with more positive approach. Adding about Giroud performance in the last leg and what could he be thinking for the second leg, he said, “Giroud actually owes the revenge to himself. He owes a great performance for himself. He missed a few opportunities in the first leg, but what striker doesn’t miss an opportunity? He has the ability and the right mental level.”