MY ARS IS ALREADY UNDER BIG PRESSURE
ARSENE WENGER admits Arsenal are already facing a must-win Champions League clash.
The Gunners are on the back foot after losing their Group D opener at Borussia Dortmund.
And that has prompted Wenger to claim his side’s home form will determine whether or not they reach the knockout stages.
That cranks up the pressure on tonight’s clash at the Emirates with Galatasaray.
The Turks have a dismal record in England, but Gunners boss Wenger know his side could be left red-faced if they under-estimate their opponents.
“You need to get a minimum of 10 points in the group stage, so the home games really are vital,” he said.
“We had a bad result in Dortmund and at the moment I feel that the potential is there for us.
“We don’t lose a lot, but we want to find our winning edge. We have that opportunity on Wednesday.
“It’s early but we are maybe under more pressure to win the game than if we had beaten Dortmund.
Hobbled
“But it is always the same in the Champions League – you want to win your home games. You just need one good result away from home and then win all your home games.”
Wenger’s side are unbeaten in the Premier League, but have lost the winning habit.
The weekend draw with north London rivals Tottenham was Arsenal’s FOURTH stalemate in six league games.
And their cause against Galatasaray won’t be helped by the absence of Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta, who hobbled out of the Spurs clash. Jack Wilshere was also injured at the weekend but trained with the squad yesterday.
Wenger has strengthened his long-term attacking options by securing the future of striker Olivier Giroud.
The Frenchman has agreed a two-year contract extension that will keep him at the club until 2018.
Wenger said: “It’s done. It will be done.
“We have plenty of options, a strong squad. We have more options offensively but we have to translate that into goals.”
Kieran Gibbs echoed his manager’s view that Arsenal must rediscover the winning touch at home.
The left-back said: “Especially at home, we need to continue that consistency in the Champions League.
“We are not here just to take part.”