Champions League: Make it happen in Munich, Wenger tells Arsenal

Frenchman wants team to achieve the impossible tonight.

MUNICH:

Arsene Wenger has told Arsenal to ‘make the impossible possible’ at Bayern Munich with the Gunners needing to score at least three times in tonight’s Champions League last 16, second leg clash.

Having lost the first leg 3-1 at Emirates Stadium three weeks ago, Wenger’s side face an uphill task to become only the second team to win at Bayern’s Allianz Arena this season.

Wenger is urging his squad to be positive with Bayern weakened by the loss of France wing Franck Ribery with a sprained ankle, while both Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and defender Jerome Boateng are suspended.

“We’re chasing the game in a very difficult environment against a team that has no doubts at all,” Wenger told Arsenal.com. “We have to try to put them on the back foot.

“Subconsciously anyway, they think they are through and we have to subconsciously think that we can do it. But our mentality is to go there, not resigned, but ambitious and provoke things.

“We have to go there and give ourselves a chance to qualify with everybody believing we can do it.

“The chance is small, but that chance makes the impossible possible. That would be a great credit for our team to do it. We have to try to achieve it.”

Even without their stars Ribery, Schweinsteiger and Boateng, coach Jupp Heynckes has a strong squad to choose from but right-wing Thomas Mueller has said the team will not take the Gunners lightly.

“Arsenal have nothing to lose, they can focus on attack,” said Mueller. “We had a 1-0 win in Milan and then lost 3-2 at home to get knocked out. We can’t afford to be too relaxed.”

Wilshere ruled out for three weeks

Arsenal’s hope of qualification were further dented after midfielder Jack Wilshere suffered an ankle injury that will keep him out of action for up to three weeks.

The 21-year-old missed the whole of last season with ankle and knee problems, before returning to action in October.

“Wilshere is out,” said Wenger. “He has an inflamed ankle; the other ankle to the one he injured (last season). He will be out for three weeks and will not be available for Munich, Swansea, and not for England.”

‘Bayern can win Champions League’

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich’s star defender Dante has said the German giants have what it takes to be crowned European champions.

“I believe we do,” he told AFP when asked if Bayern has what it takes to win the Champions League final at London’s Wembley stadium on May 25.

“Last year, this team almost did it. We are very hungry for titles and we are working very hard to achieve them. It is not easy, of course, but we are striving for it.”

In the other match of the night, Malaga will hope to overcome a 1-0 deficit at home to Porto to claim a place in the quarter-finals. 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2013.