Wenger eyes victory over Porto

الإثنين، 25 سبتمبر 2006 - 14:48

كتب : Megan Detrie

Wenger has a reason to celebrate

Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has said beating Porto will be a challenge in their first UEFA Champions League game at the new Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

"If you look at the English teams who have beaten Porto or Benfica you do not find many," he told Arsenal's official website.

"So we have a big challenge and do what nobody has done recently in England - beat them," Wenger said of the fellow Group G competitors who are at 100% having won all four of their domestic league games.

Arsenal are set as favorites to win their first group phase match at home and they hope to garner another victory two weeks after their opening 2-1 win in Hamburg.

Still despite Arsenal's good standing Wenger has kept a critical eye on Porto, but says he doesn't know what to expect during the game.

"What I expect from Porto is a very good technical level in the middle of the park. They keep the ball well. I don't know what to expect because they play with two strikers, with three or one," he said.

Porto who has one point after holding a 0-0 draw with CSKA Moscow in their opening game have never met Arsenal competitively before.

Both teams are off on strong footing in their domestic leagues, with Arsenal having beaten Sheffield United 3-0 on Saturday and Porto winning 3-0 on Friday over Beira Mar.

As the Frenchman gears up to celebrate 10 years as Arsenal manager this week, he remains focused on the side he helped make last season's Champions League finalists and the campaign ahead.

"I know we want to win this game, because if do that after [the win at] Hamburg, we are in a very, very strong position to qualify."

The game will be Arsenal's first European match at the Emirates Stadium, which Wenger considers another challenge the Gunners have to overcome as time goes by.

"Emirates Stadium did not feel like home at first because Highbury is in your mind when you play at home and it takes time," said Wenger.

"But I feel more at home every time, for example finding my way to the press [area]. You feel better in every game.

التعليقات