We face a big task at the Wanda Metropolitano when we face Atletico Madrid in the second leg of our Europa League semi-final on Thursday.
The Spanish side have not conceded a goal at home in 11 games, but Arsene Wenger is convinced we can end that run.
This is what he told the media at the pre-match press conference:
on Atletico's defensive record at home...
The history has to stop somewhere, that is what we will try to do. In the first game we created chances but we didn't manage to put them in the net. We have to keep the same commitment [in this game], not focus too much on where we play, just how we attack and build the game up from the back.
on Diego Simeone…
I believe every manager has his own personality and he is doing extremely well in what he does. He tries to influence his team in a positive way. Many times he manages to do it. Last week he got sent off and only the referee can make that decision.
on facing Simeone and younger managers...
Honestly, I don’t feel too much my age. I don’t think Simeone is a young manager. He has huge experience already, he has won Champions League finals, he won the league in Spain and experiences before he came to Spain. I don't focus on going head to head. My job is to prepare my team and I just focus on my team. I forget completely who manages the other team and just try to get my team in the best possible shape to give a good performance.
on Antoine Griezmann...
I think Griezmann has done very well here, unfortunately he hurt us last week. He is a player I rate. He moved out of France at a young age, he made it away from home. He has an exceptional career and he looks like he loves the game, which I like in a player that is talented.
Copyright 2024 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
