Football: Wenger eyes Champions glory if Arsenal beat Bayern

Editors' Picks

  • Osman signs new Everton deal until 2015

    Osman signs new Everton deal until 2015

    Osman signs new Everton deal until 2015

    The 32-year-old, who captained the Toffees against Manchester City and made his England debut this season, has committed himself to the club despite David Moyes' departure

  • Manchester City target five trophies in five years

    Manchester City target five trophies in five years

    Manchester City target five trophies in five years

    LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester City have set their next manager the daunting task of winning five trophies in the next five years. City sacked manager Roberto Mancini earlier this month, saying the club had failed to achieve any of its stated targets for the season except qualification for the Champions League and are expected to appoint Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini. "If we look at the next five years, I would say I want to win five trophies," City chief executive Ferran Soriano was quoted as

  • EXCLUSIVE - Malaysia tycoon plans IPO of football club Cardiff City - sources

    EXCLUSIVE - Malaysia tycoon plans IPO of football club Cardiff City - sources

    EXCLUSIVE - Malaysia tycoon plans IPO of football club Cardiff City - sources

    By Yantoultra Ngui KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian billionaire Vincent Tan is exploring an IPO of U.K football team Cardiff City for as early as this year, people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters, in a deal that would follow the team's recent promotion to the Premier League. A listing for the Welsh team would follow Manchester United's debut on the New York Stock Exchange last year, which raised $233.2 million in the largest sports team IPO ever. The process is in its early stages,

  • Four-goal comeback lifts Man City over Chelsea

    Four-goal comeback lifts Man City over Chelsea

    Four-goal comeback lifts Man City over Chelsea

    Micah Richards scored in the 90th minute to complete a stunning comeback from a three-goal deficit and give Manchester City a 4-3 victory over Chelsea in an exhibition thriller.

  • 'Dynamic' England can emulate Spain, insists Cleverley

    'Dynamic' England can emulate Spain, insists Cleverley

    'Dynamic' England can emulate Spain, insists Cleverley

    The Manchester United midfielder believes the mixture of players who have come through the ranks and experienced stars is exactly what is needed to win international trophies

  • Wolfsburg shock Lyon to win women's Champions League final

    Wolfsburg shock Lyon to win women's Champions League final

    Wolfsburg shock Lyon to win women's Champions League final

    LONDON (Reuters) - Wolfsburg completed a surprise victory in the women's Champions League final on Thursday, beating twice defending champions Olympique Lyon 1-0 thanks to a second-half penalty from Martina Mueller. The German side became the first team to defeat the French champions in normal time in 120 games. Favourites Lyon, who were appearing in their fourth straight final, dominated for large parts of the match but were unable to find a breakthrough at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge stadium.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes his side can end an eight-year trophy drought by capturing European club football's greatest prize if they knock Bayern Munich out of the Champions League.

The Gunners face the German giants in the first leg of their last 16 clash at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, a match that follows hot on the heels of their FA Cup fifth round tie at home to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

Bayern lost last season's Champions League final to Chelsea and are currently 15 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, having not lost since October 28.

They have also returned from German football's winter break with four straight league wins.

Arsenal, by contrast, are a massive 21 points adrift of Premier League leaders Manchester United and their defence coninues to look vulnerable.

However, an upbeat Wenger said Friday: "We have a big game on Tuesday against Bayern. If we get past them, then why should we not go further and win it?"

"It looks at the start that (winning) the FA Cup is more reachable than any other competition, but you don't really know how difficult it will be.

"If you compare it to the Premier League certainly, we have more chances to do it because we are too far away in the Premier League," added Wenger, looking to bring sileverware to Arsenal for the first time since the north London club won the FA Cup in 2005.

Meanwhile the French manager insisted the excitement generated by their upcoming Champions League tie would mean no loss of concentration for Arsenal in a match against second-tier Rovers that will take the winners into the FA Cup quarter-finals.

"The FA Cup is an important target for us," said Wenger.

"We always take it very seriously, we're on a good run and we want to continue the run," added Wenger, whose side have closed the gap on the Premier League top four after back-to-back victories.

"We are the favourites, they're the outsiders, and have nothing to lose.

"However, if you look at who is in the squad, many of their players have Premier League experience, that is why they are dangerous."

Arsenal have fitness concerns over England midfielder Jack Wilshere, who went off at Sunderland last week as a because of concerns over a thigh problem.

Wenger said: "I will not take a risk. (That is because of) the rest of the season in mind and what happened to him before."

Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen should be back from his ankle problem, but fellow defender Laurent Koscielny (calf) will be assessed.

Meanwhile Gervinho could return to Arsenal duty following the Ivory Coast forward's time at the Africa Cup of Nations.

"We will play a team who has a good chance to go through with experienced players," said Wenger. "We only have big names in our squad, so it will be a team of big names, for sure."

Fantasy Football

Most Popular Stories

  • Kevin Durant’s giant back tattoo is finished, may include misspelling

    Ball Don't Lie

    Kevin Durant's collection of "business tattoos" took a number of folks by surprise two summers ago. Some were struck by the torso-covering tats, which they viewed as a departure from the clean-cut, broad-appeal persona he'd cultivated; this seemed like a … Continue reading →

  • Atletico Madrid see off determined Singapore Selection side in glamour friendly

    Atletico Madrid see off determined Singapore Selection side in glamour friendly

    GOAL.com
    Atletico Madrid see off determined Singapore Selection side in glamour friendly

    The hosts put up a good showing against the La Liga side in the Singapore Olympic Foundation-Peter Lim Charity Cup, as both teams entertained a sell-out crowd for a good cause

  • Garcia wants Woods talks to defuse racist row

    Garcia wants Woods talks to defuse racist row

    AFP News
    Garcia wants Woods talks to defuse racist row

    A contrite Sergio Garcia said Wednesday he wants a meeting with Tiger Woods to apologise directly for the racist row that was sparked by his "fried chicken" comments at an official dinner.

  • LeBron James delivers winner as Heat beat Pacers

    LeBron James delivers winner as Heat beat Pacers

    AFP News
    LeBron James delivers winner as Heat beat Pacers

    LeBron James drove for a game-winning layup as time expired to give the Miami Heat a thrilling 103-102 overtime win over the Indiana Pacers in game one of the NBA Eastern Conference finals.

  • What will David Beckham do next?

    Fit To Post Sports

    By Early Doors (original post from Yahoo! Eurosport can be found here) David Beckham will bring down the curtain on his 21-year career as a professional footballer when the French champions Paris Saint-Germain visit Lorient in their final Ligue 1 … Continue reading →