Arsene Wenger is looking forward
to a different challenge when Arsenal face Roma in the UEFA
Champions League on Tuesday.
The Gunners have been held to goalless draws in their last three
Premier League outings but Wenger expects a more open game against
the Italians.
Arsenal will hope to take an advantage into the second leg at
Stadio Olimpico next month but Wenger thinks Roma will also be
positive.
"I don't believe Roma will come for a goalless draw," said the
French tactician.
"They will play in an Italian way, catch us on the break because
they know an away goal will give them a good chance.
"We will have to have a spot-on defensive performance and score
goals against them."
Wenger has been frustrated by the defensive tactics of some
Premier League teams in recent weeks and was not happy after the
clash with Sunderland on Saturday.
He is nevertheless confident his men will rediscover their
cutting edge over the final three months of the campaign.
He said: "It is an interesting challenge. In the first part of
the season we conceded too many goals and scored high. In the
second half of the season, we do not concede anymore, but we do not
score.
"So in the final part of the season the challenge is to find a
balance between being solid defensively and good attacking.
"I am not critical of Sunderland. We have to deal with that
because that is what everybody does to us.
"They gave us a problem. We have to be good enough to deal with
it.
"We want to be even more determined to punish teams who refuse
to play.
"I do not know whether it is becoming psychological. It looks
like there's no common reason, but we had the chances against
Sunderland - it was down to inches and their goalkeeper.
"I cannot fault the spirit and I believe we have to keep that as
a strength and the rest will come."
