Skip to main content

Lewandowski Is Not An Issue For Arsenal - Wenger


lewandowski 5 goals

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed how his side will try to stop Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Lewandowski has scored 16 goals in 11 club appearances so far this term, as well as a further six for Poland in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.

And Wenger believes his defenders will have to be at the top of their game to get the better of him.

"First of all the best way to combat him is for us to have the ball," Wenger was quoted as saying by Arsenal's official website.

"After that you have to be shrewd with him because inside the box he is outstanding, because of his technique, his finishing, his movement inside the box.

"That’s where we need the experience of Mertesacker and Koscielny to deal with that because that will be one of the important things on the night."

Bayern are among the favourites to win the Champions League this season, with Pep Guardiola's outfit top of Group F after wins over Olympiacos and Dinamo Zagreb.

The Bavarians have also triumphed in all nine of their Bundesliga encounters to date, and Wenger believes Arsenal are underdogs ahead of Tuesday's clash at the Emirates Stadium. 

"You have to respect Bayern," he said. "Historically they have won the European Cup how many times? Five? And Arsenal zero. So you cannot say that historically we are at the same level as Bayern.

"They have done it in the past and they have the history and the knowledge. What we want is to get there.

"In 2015 we are the team that has taken more points than everybody else. But in Europe it’s true we have been poor in our first two games. That is what we want to correct.

"I must say we have our backs to the wall and we play against a top, top team. So I can understand the scepticism of people. But we have to prove them wrong.

"We don’t look at the history. We look at the potential performance on the day. That’s what we try to do. The history doesn’t play the game. What will decide the game is the performance we produce. That comes from if we believe we can do it."

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Depay: I'm a team player

The Manchester United winger has acknowledged his form is "not very good" at present, but rejected suggestions he is selfish Netherlands winger Memphis Depay has rejected Danny Blind's suggestion that he is not a team player and insists he is working as hard as ever to rediscover his best form. The 21-year-old inspired PSV to the Eredivisie title last season but has struggled to adapt to the Premier League since joining Manchester United for €27.5 million during the summer. Netherlands boss Blind claimed last week that Depay "does not always function for the team" but still included the the forward in his squad for the upcoming friendlies with Wales and Germany. "When I spoke to Danny Blind [after linking up with Netherlands], it was a very good conversation," the Red Devils forward told  NOS . "I think I’m a team player and the other players in the team also think that. “I don’t think I’m in a difficult path of my career, as the media says

Why I'would Reject Real Madrid to stay at Arsenal-Alexis Sanchez

The Chile international says he is not interested in speculation linking him with a return to Spain, and addressed attempts to curse him by Peru fans Arsenal Star Alexis Sanchez Alexis Sanchez  has responded to reports linking him with move to  Real Madrid  by insisting he is happy at  Arsenal  and not thinking about leaving the club. The former Barcelona star has been linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu this week, with reports claiming los Blancos are lining up for a move for the Chile international in 2016. However, speaking at a press conference in Chile on Wednesday following back-to-back World Cup 2018 qualification wins, Alexis dismissed the speculation and stressed he plans on remaining at the Emirates Stadium for the foreseeable future. "I have no idea what the media are saying, but I feel comfortable at Arsenal," he told reporters. "I'm happy with my team-mates and the city of London is beautiful. I'm not going to change, I'm very happ

Neymar powers injury-hit Barcelona to clean sheet win at BATE

Three quick thoughts as an injury-hit Barcelona ease to a 2-0 win at BATE Borisov in Tuesday night's Champions League Group E matchday three clash. 1. Neymar + Rakitic = two goals and three points Two beautiful goals from Ivan Rakitic, and two lovely assists from Neymar, were enough to bring Barcelona a welcomed 2-0 win, and keep last year's Champions League winners in firm control of Group E. Barca had lots of the ball in the first half, but made few clear chances, and the game was still scoreless at the break. BATE's fans celebrated the half-time whistle with the apparent idea that they could capitalise on the Catalans' recent dodgy away form and get something from the game. But two superb pieces of play from Rakitic and Neymar early in the second half changed all that. The opener saw Neymar take an early pass from Sergio Busquets and run 40 yards inside the BATE half, drawing the defence before he timed his pass perfectly to give Rakitic space to stri