Arsene Wenger says Arsenal will progress to the semi finals of the Champions League.

 It was a slow start by Arsenal but all credit to Villareal starting so strongly, and they were rewarded with a goal from Senna after around 8 minutes. Alumnia was left sprawling as the 30 yard shot was smashed in…

Wenger said: “Villarreal started stronger and put us in a difficult position but it was a great response.”

“We took over in the second half and it puts us in a great position. We want to qualify at home and repeat the performance from the second half.”

“I am confident because of the quality we have shown added to the mental strength and desire we have shown this team has shown the whole season they are mentally very strong and when they have backs to the wall, these young players always find an answer.

“I believe we have created momentum. We are a very young team but are able to focus.

“We have shown with the consistency we have in the Premier League that we are able to concentrate every three days and at that age that is a big quality.”

WATCH - Wenger talking after the game…

The Villa Real manager has said that Arsenal were lucky and according to other reports like this one from The Telegraph he said the draw with Arsenal was ‘unfair’…

Oh - and last but not least Adebayor’s goal! It was on a par with Senna’s strike and for someone of Adebayor’s height to get that much time on the ball isn’t luck and I think we fully deserved the draw because of the second half performance. Watch the goal on TheGunningHawk.com

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Wenger praises Arsenal’s Champions League strength

Following the Champions league match in which we lost 1 - 0 on the night, followed by extra time and then missing the first penalty kick; to come back and win it shows just how much mental strength we have, says Arsene Wenger..

Wenger said: “After conceding an early goal and missing the first penalty, you need something special, mental strength to come back and win it.

“I am proud of the mental strength because it has been questioned a lot.”

“We had problems to create clear-cut chances, and that was down to the quality of their defending and resilience.”

“I was apprehensive because you knew that with the final played here on their home ground, that Roma would give everything.”

“I was very concerned if we were the only team to go out tonight, that it would have been detrimental to the progress of the team, so it will certainly help us to improve our confidence.”

“The team has swum a lot against the stream.”
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“I believe this kind of result can increase the belief and the self-confidence which can help us for the rest of the season”

“I did not think at all it would go to penalties,” he added.

“But I had my mind made up in the second period of extra-time who would take the penalties.”

So with Arsenal now safely into the Quarter finals of the Champions League 2009 is it time to place your bets on the winner? Arsenal’s next Champions league result and bet on the Champions League draw, which takes place next Friday, 20th March 2009. Place your Arsenal bets here www.thearsenalblog.com/betting

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Well it’s been a while since my last post and I must admit the recent run of bad results in the Premiership has been frustrating to say the least. I think a comment on the BBC Sport web site today sums it up - ‘these Arsenal players are just not good enough - it’s plain and simple.’

Long gone are the days of ‘The Invincibles’ when we became the first team since Preston North End in 1888 - 1889 to go the whole season unbeaten. For a good old bit of reminiscing on the past take a look at Arsenal the Invincibles on the BBC site…

Anyway - back to last nights loss in the Champions League…It means we’re at the mercy of the draw for the last 16 which takes place on Friday 19th December at 12 noon our time.

Wenger said “We lost the match and came second. Porto were stronger than us, we were not in trouble until they scored but then it was difficult.”

“In the last 20 minutes, they were dangerous every time we lost the ball and we were not effective enough. At 2-0 down the belief was not there, we weren’t strong enough to come back.”

“We can fight with everybody in Europe and can qualify against anybody, it is important now to come back in the Premier League and be in a good position. We now have some time to focus on that.”

“We will see who we get in the draw, and then look at the Champions League again in February.”

Ferreira the Porto coach said they deserved top spot in the group; “The players knew what my tactics were going to be and they played even better than I expected,We deserved first place in the group, but it is most important that the players grew a lot with this type of performance.”

Lets pray that we’re having a good run and feel up for the game if we happen to come up against Barcelona or Juventus…I’m not convinced at the moment.

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Arsene Wenger was delighted that Arsenal put the disappointment of defeat by Hull behind them as they beat Porto 4-0 in the Champions League.

The Gunners boss said: “It is the response I wanted. Maybe it was our most complete performance this season.” Read the full BBC news story here; Arsenal response pleases Wenger

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BBC sport looks back over probably one of the best Premier League seasons ever, except for the fact we didn’t win it…At least it went right to the last game and it was never a ‘one horse race’ kind of season.

>>Click here to watch highlights of the 2007/08 Premier League season

I think Wenger needs to spend some money in defence and now in midfield since Flamini is set to depart. Let’s hope Eduardo can get back on track after breaking his leg back in March, I hope he can start next season fully fit.

Thiery Henry has been interviewed by the BBC for the Football Focus programe, due to go out this Saturday, 26th April 2008.

It looks quite interesting and from an Arsenal point of view I’ll be watching. It’s also interesting to hear what he really thinks about his move to Barcelona and the season he’s had.

I’ll always respect Henry because, in my opinion, he’s not an arrogant or ‘false’ player or person. What I mean is he just tells it like it is, no fuss; he just gets on with it. I suppose it’s fairly easy if you’re earning millions of pounds a year playing football 2 or 3 times a week! But seriously, all the fame and hassle that comes with it must be very irratating after a certain amount of time…

Henry has been quoted as saying ‘There’s only one team for me in my heart’ - I presume he means Arsenal! Of course he does!!

>>Click here to see a video clip of the interview

“People who know me will tell you, I’m the same in training, I’m the same in life - I cannot act. If I’m not happy, I’m not happy,” he said.

 ”I don’t know. I’m happy here at Barcelona. I still have three years of my contract left with Barcelona.”

“But England… I watch every game that I see on TV. I was watching Stoke City versus Crystal Palace. I will always miss it.”

“There has been since I arrived here a lot of speculation from day one but, hey, go back where? There’s only one team for me in my heart. It took me a while to understand what that club, Arsenal, meant.”

“I don’t regret stuff in my life. Stuff happens for a reason. You don’t regret stuff that you thought about. I don’t regret it.”

Don’t forget to catch the full interview on Football Focus, BBC1 12:10, Saturday 26th April 2008.

I can’t bring my self to say how unhappy I am with last nights result. I think Wenger sums it up; the two dodgy penalty decisions finished off the tie for us.

Click here to see the video of Wenger’s interview after the match

I hope that TV referees can be brought into football like they use them for rugby, even if it’s only for penalty and offside decisions. Footballers today are overpaid and rely on cheating to win games, simple as that. If TV referees were brought in then maybe footballers might be able to stay on their feet in penalty areas in every ground in the land, now that would be amazing…

I love the first paragraph here; ‘Goal hero Ryan Babel believes it was the incredible support of the Kop that inspired Liverpool to overcome Arsenal on another wonderful European night at Anfield.’

Yeah - & thanks to the invisible Liverpool fan who magically jumped out of the Kop and tripped him up for the penalty! I think there was a lot of shoulder flapping and that was about it….

Not a good result again on Saturday, we needed to step it up and all 3 point from Liverpool with the title race still hanging in the balance. Wenger still refuses to give up on the title race but personally I’m not convinced United will let 6 points slip away from them now. Also don’t forget Chelsea are still in there as well…

Liverpool went ahead from a Crouch goal into the bottom corner. It was Bendtner who powered a header in from a Fabregas free kick to even up the score. It was lucky that Voronin wasted a few very good chances for Liverpool late on.

There were lots of changes from the two teams that kicked off the Champions League first leg tie earlier in the week. Infact Liverpool only started 3 of the same players involved in the Champions League game.

I think we were poor in the early stages of the game and really, really need to be up for it tomorrow if we’re to get a result at Anfield. The whole season pivots on the next few weeks and I hope we can do the business and beat Liverpool convincingly tomorrow night.

William Gallas says Arsenal will show their quality in their UEFA Champions League second leg against Liverpool at Anfield.

The first leg of the quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium ended 1-1 with debayor’s 23rd minute goal taking the lead for the gunners. Dirk Kuyt got the equalizer just 3 minutes later on 26 minutes.

Everyone is saying the away goal gives Liverpool a slight advantage going into the return leg at Anfield next week but I think this will only encourage the Gunners to give everything and go for the win. Gallas told Sky Sports that he’s looking forward to the match next week:

“We know that it will be difficult, we know that they will be strong and we know the supporters will be behind them, so that will be the opportunity to show everybody how good we can be,” Gallas told Sky Sports News.

Speaking to Sky Sports Cesc Fabregas said he thinks it will be tough:

“There are still 90 minutes to play, we know what we can do and we know what it is to play at Anfield.

“It will be tough, it will be difficult, but the pressure is still there for both of us.”

Arsenal should have had a second half penalty when Kuyt pulled back Hleb in the box but the referee only gave a corner…

Kolo Toure, said it was maybe too tight to push for a winner: “It is always difficult because you don’t know if you have to push or to wait because you don’t want to concede a goal as it would be really difficult for the second game.

“We didn’t know if we have to go for one or don’t concede a goal.”

Can’t wait for the return leg at Anfied!