Wenger adamant Arsenal will not be complacent against Monaco

Arsène Wenger does not expect an easy ride as Arsenal aim to get past his former club Monaco and secure a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in four seasons.


The Gunners found themselves unseeded for the knockout stages having finished behind Borussia Dortmund in Group D on goal difference, and so could have again faced one of Europe’s big guns, as they did when coming up against Bayern Munich who ended their hopes in the past two seasons.

Monaco were viewed as one of the weaker seeds, have scored only four Champions League goals this season, but still qualified as winners of Group C ahead of Bayer Leverkusen.

However, Wenger – who guided Monaco to the Ligue 1 title in 1987-88 and semi-finals of the Champions League a few seasons later – insists at this level, any thoughts of complacency can be fatal.

“We have been in the Champions League for 17 consecutive years and that means we would have not learned the lesson – easy is a word that you have to ban in the Champions League,” said Wenger, who revealed the midfielder Jack Wilshere had been rested from Tuesday’s training session as a precaution following his recovery after ankle surgery.

“Every time we were in there, it was hard-earned wins. It is always one-goal difference – you go out for one goal, you stay in for one goal and that means you have to work very hard.

“If you look at the teams who are competing they are always a reason to think it is difficult, so let us just try to do the next game, go into that with belief and humility, to try to give everything we can.”

Arsenal head into the home leg of the European tie on the back of some impressive domestic form, which has seen them reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and move up into third place in the Premier League following Saturday’s 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace.

“I heard yesterday, they [Monaco] say we have the pressure because we are favourites, for me it is a 50-50 game,” said Wenger. “There is a pressure on the game, but that is what you want.

“Personally I love that because there is a lot of stake and that is the type of game you want to play when you are a manager or a player. Monaco is a team who made 11 points at the group stage, scored four goals and conceded one, so that means they defend very well. That is what they will certainly try to do tomorrow and they are also very good on the break, quick in transition, so that is what we expect from them.”


Source: Guardian