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LONDON. — Arsène Wenger has stressed the importance of making a fast start against Bayern Munich in tonight’s Champions League soccer match because “every minute counts” in ties such as these.
The Gunners found themselves two goals down to the German side after just 20 minutes of last season’s Champions League clash at Emirates Stadium.
Wenger is determined to avoid a repeat performance tonight, and is expecting an exciting game.
“With the quality of the players on the pitch on both sides, it’s nearly impossible to play without style,” he said. “All the quality players are exceptionally gifted people and they will produce a quality game.
“If you look at the history of the Champions League, you will see that it is always the big players who make a difference, and after the analysis is always adapted to the team that wins. But most of the time it’s the big players who make the difference on the pitch.
“It is important (to make a fast start) because every minute counts in a game of this stature and we are conscious of that and we’ll try to start very strongly. We have big home strengths recently because we don’t give goals away and that will certainly be vitally important in this tie.”
Much has been made of the battle on the touchline as Wenger and Pep Guardiola go head to head, but the Arsenal boss insists this is merely a sideshow.
“Look, it’s interesting, but football is not a chess game. It belongs to the players, when the game starts (it is about) the right decisions on the pitch,” he said.
“As managers, we prepare the team to do well. We take responsibility when it doesn’t go well, but let’s not forget that the main heroes are on the pitch, not on the bench.”
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich coach Guardiola says he holds Arsenal boss Wenger in high esteem as he prepares his side to face the Gunners at the Emirates. The two sides meet tonight in the first leg of an eagerly anticipated Champions League soccer last 16 clash.
Defending champions Bayern knocked Arsenal out at the same stage last year, but Wenger’s men are enjoying an excellent season, sitting second in the Barclays English Premier League and through to the last eight of the FA Cup. — AFP
Online Reporter