Gunners boss wary of Torres threat
ARSENE Wenger has warned his Arsenal side of the danger posed by
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres ahead of Wednesday's Champions'
League quarter-final tie.
The match is the first in a run of three consecutive fixtures
against the Reds, with the two-legged tie sandwiching a Premier
League fixture at the Emirates on Saturday, and Wenger is aware
that Torres, who has 21 league goals to his name in his debut
season in English football, will have to be stopped if the Gunners
are to prevail.
"I rate Torres," said Wenger of Liverpool's hit-man. "I believe
he had quite a good start after a spell when he was in and out.
"Since he is back on a regular basis, he is extremely
dangerous."
The Frenchman acknowledges that the two teams will know each
other well, but insisted that his players will be desperate to
overcome this "test of character."
He said: "When you play a 'local' team in the European Cup it is
a test of character. We know we can do it, but who wants it the
most.
"Against an English team the competition is always different. We
know each other well, so there are two things which will make the
difference - the quantity of the mental strengths available in the
teams and how well the players who can make a decision perform.
"We play each other three times in six days and it will be a
case of 'who is ready again'?"
Despite the opposition remaining the same, Wenger recognises
that the preparation for the Champions' League tie will be
altogether different to the Premier League clash at the weekend,
especially given the Reds' impressive recent record in the
competition, which they famously won in 2005.
"In this game - a direct knockout - the goal conceded at home is
the killer," he said. "In a league game you think even if you
concede a goal you can still win it.
"So we have to be organised, cautious and make sure you defend
well first before you attack."
Arsenal sent holders AC Milan crashing out in the last round
thanks to a superb team performance at the San Siro, but Wenger is
aware that Liverpool will pose a more physical threat to his side
than the Italians.
"Liverpool will be more rough, more edgy and difficult to
penetrate," he observed. "Milan was a confrontation of two similar
styles where we were better. Against Liverpool we will have to win
the physical battle as well.
"They can raise their game and it is a team which at home can
dig deep and produce a result.
"We want to win the game on Tuesday, but 0-0 is never a
disappointing result at home in the first leg because it puts the
team who plays against you at home under huge pressure.
"They play with the idea that if they concede a goal they are
out. That puts them a little bit in between - do we go for it or do
we wait? It gives you a good chance."
The victors' likely opponents in the semi-finals are Chelsea,
who are expected to progress past Fenerbache, while the other
English representative, Manchester United, play Roma in the other
half of the draw. And Wenger is convinced that at least one of the
remaining four home teams will make it to the final in Moscow.
"Certainly one English if not two will be in the final this
year," he declared. "We were in the final in 2006 and we can come
there again."
