Arsenal just recently surpassed all expectations in the
Champions League when a young, exuberant side knocked out the aging
and jaded reigning champions Milan in the second round.
The Gunners were finalists in 2006 when they overcame the likes of
Real Madrid and Juventus only to be slain by Barcelona at the final
hurdle in a match that saw Jens Lehmann sent off in the first
half.
Stronger
With many of Arsene Wenger's youngsters who have toiled in the past
couple of seasons now beginning to click and perform as a unit,
Hleb is confident Arsenal's young side has what it takes to go all
the way.
"We have got a very good chance [in the Champions League] this
year," he declared.
"We are stronger now than when we reached the final in Paris. Even
though we are quite a young team, we do have a lot of collective
experience.
"With our squad, and with the manager we have leading us, we can
achieve absolutely anything."
Quick Reactions
With the draw for the quarterfinals imminent — all of the Big Four
being present, with Barcelona, Roma, Schalke and Fenerbache making
up the numbers — Arsene Wenger is prepared to face anybody as he
looks to replicate and surpass his 2006 success.
This time around, however, his side are also competing for the
Premier League — something they were not doing in 2006 — and Wenger
has revealed the meticulous and fast-paced nature of Arsenal's
organisational process before such occasions.
Speaking to Arsenal TV, he said: "You prepare in one sense
that you are on alert to know where do you travel because don't
forget that you could go to Turkey as well as to England.
"If it's England you don't need to travel too much because we
always stay in the same hotels.
"If it is to Turkey, particularly with the time between the draw
and the first game being very short, you have to organise that very
quickly.
"Then the scouting department is on alert as well because you have
to respond and react very quickly."
"I play a big part in the organisation and scouting. That's my
department basically, but the people have worked with me for a long
time.
"They know what I want and I trust them to do their job very well
and respond very quickly."
