CAN GUNNERS DO THE IMPOSSIBLE TONIGHT?
Arsenal believe they can overturn 3-1 deficit to Monaco
ARSENAL were on the floor after losing 3-1 to Monaco last month but the Londoners have rebuilt confidence enough to believe they can overturn their Champions League deficit in tonight’s return match.
Since being beaten in the last-16 first leg at The Emirates, the Gunners have bounced back by knocking Manchester United out of the FA Cup and by overcoming West Ham United, Queens Park Rangers and Everton in the Premier League.
“I think we have pulled ourselves together,” midfielder Francis Coquelin said.
“There are quite a lot of things to change after you lose 3-1 at home but we’ve done that in recent games.
“We haven’t conceded many goals and we’ve been scoring goals as well. We haven’t lost a game since Monaco and confidence is high.”
France striker Olivier Giroud, who had a terrible game in the first leg, also seems to be back to his best and scored the opening goal in Saturday’s 3-0 win over West Ham.
“[Responding] is one of his strengths. This is a boy who played at the age of 22 or 23 in division three,” manager Arsene Wenger said of Giroud’s spell with the Tours club.
“He’s come out and become an international footballer.
“You need some mental strength to do that.”
Wenger is likely to start Santi Cazorla and Alex OxladeChamberlain in midfield after they were rested on Saturday.
Like Arsenal, Monaco’s selfbelief is also high after brushing Bastia aside 3-0 in Ligue 1 on Friday thanks to an Anthony Martial double.
Martial started after coach Leonardo Jardim rested Dimitar Berbatov and the 19-year-old forward produced a sterling performance as Monaco remained fourth in the table.
Only once this season have the principality club conceded three goals or more, a 4-1 defeat at Girondins de Bordeaux in August.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid will need to put an end to a recent goal drought if they are to have any chance of overturning a 1-0 deficit in tonight’s Champions League last 16, second leg at home to Bayer Leverkusen.
Atletico, last season’s beaten finalists, have only scored once in their last four outings in all competitions and slipped nine points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona after Saturday’s 0-0 stalemate at Espanyol.
Their chances of beating Espanyol were hampered by the dismissal of centre back Miranda shortly before half time, Atletico’s third red card in five matches, which prompted coach Diego Simeone to replace forward Fernando Torres with defender Jose Gimenez.
Forwards Mario Mandzukic, Antoine Griezmann and Torres have been off colour in recent weeks and Atletico have failed to score in three consecutive away games in La Liga for the first time since Simeone took over at the end of 2011.
Leverkusen, by contrast, have rattled in 11 goals without reply in winning their last five games in all competitions, including Friday’s 4-0 drubbing of VfB Stuttgart.
“[Not conceding] of course gives you more confidence for the following matches, above all for [today], and we wouldn’t complain if it could last another few games,” Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno said on the club’s website.
Atletico midfielder Tiago, who is suspended after his red card in the first leg along with centre back Diego Godin, said he was sure the goals would start to flow again for the Spanish champions.
“The team looked strong even when we were playing with 10,” the Portuguese said.
“We had clear chances and it’s true we didn’t put them away but I see a team that is sure of itself and in good shape.
“We know our strengths. We have to keep trying so that the goals and the victories come.”
Although Atletico have only won a European tie twice after losing the first leg away 1-0, their home form suggests they have a good chance of pulling it off against Leverkusen.
Looking to reach the quarterfinals of Europe’s elite club competition for a seventh time, Atletico have won 20 of their last 22 European matches at the Calderon. They lost 2-0 to Rubin Kazan in the Europa League last 32 in February 2013.
‘ I think we have pulled ourselves together