It may get Messi warns Wenger
ARSENE WENGER believes Barcelona have shown his Gunners that even with some of the world’s greatest players at your disposal, a 4-1 lead can turn Messi.
The Spanish media highlighted the 19 times that Lionel Messi conceded possession on a miserable night for the La Liga leaders as Roma pulled off one of the biggest shocks ever in European football.
And if Arsenal’s stars were not already ruing their failure to build on their 4-1 half-time lead against CSKA in the first leg last Thursday, they might have been with every goal that went in at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday.
When Kostas Manolas scored the vital third with just eight minutes to go – sending Roma through on away goals – it sent a shockwave right across Europe.
“Last night may be a warning for us,” said Wenger here yesterday. “But let us not go overboard as well. Yes, we have a big job to do but we are in a strong position and it is how we approach the game that will be vital tomorrow.
“We are in a position where I don’t think we are under threat of complacency, it is an important target for us to go as far as possible.”
Central defender Shkodran Mustafi echoed that sentiment as a near fully-fit side – after the successful resting of Laurent Koscielny’s knee on Sunday left flu victim Granit Xhaka as the only player to miss the flight – prepared to defend their lead.
“It came as perfect timing for us, to see that it is football, you are never safe especially when you win at home and have the away game,” said Mustafi.
“You have to be very careful how you show up and it showed us that we have to be really focused and really concentrated to finish off the job we did in the first leg.”
The problem is that Arsenal this season have not been very good at stopping the goals going in, and after the squad’s plane touched down at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport yesterday Mustafi was given a very personal reminder that he has been very much at the heart of it.
At the current rate, this looks set to be the first league season since 1984 that Arsenal have conceded more than 50 goals and that has already come at a price – last month Mustafi lost his place in the Germany squad.
The absence from Joachim Low’s recent get-together for the challenging friendlies against Spain and Brazil has to be seen as an ominous warning and the 2014 World Cup winner will have seen the signs advertising this summer’s tournament as he made his way through passport control.
“With Germany we have a big squad and a lot of players to choose from, so obviously everyone has to fight for their place and that is what I am doing,” said Mustafi.
“I’m going to use the games we have in the Premier League and Europa League to get my place back, but in the end it will be the decision of the coach.
“All I can do is do my work on the pitch and we will see at the end if I’m going to be nominated or not.”
The entire Arsenal squad were met by about 100 fans in a cordial welcome to Russian soil with no special security measures in place despite mounting political pressure between the two countries.
“On that front there will be no problems,” said Wenger, ahead of a match which kicks off at 10.05pm local time.
“We have no problems in coming here and I don’t think that will affect the game.
“We are not really informed about what is right and wrong so we are best to stay out of that.
“We had many Russian fans in London and there was no problem, why should it be different here?”
A total of 800 supporters have bought tickets for the away end tonight but up to 500 of those are thought to live in Russia itself.