Arsene Wenger has vowed to wreck Manchester United’s plans for a Premier League title party at Old Trafford on Saturday.

United need just a point from their lunchtime meeting with the Gunners to wrap up a third consecutive league triumph and equal Liverpool’s record of 18 English titles.

But Wenger insists his players will be determined to delay the celebrations and claim revenge for their Champions League semi-final defeat by United, which led many to question the Frenchman’s reliance on his homegrown youngsters.

“We have a very promising team who can deliver very soon,” Wenger claimed Thursday. “If you look at the statistics of the two teams, we have scored a similar amount of goals. In the passing quality in the final third and in the opposition half, we are as good as Manchester United.

“We have conceded more goals and that is where the difference lies; we have conceded 36, they have conceded 24, we have scored 64, they have scored 67.

“Offensively, I do not believe there is a difference. Defensively, there was a difference.”

Even if they lose to Arsenal, United will still be champions if they pick up a point at struggling Hull on the final day of the season or if Liverpool drop any points in their two remaining matches, away to West Brom and at home to Tottenham.

“It looks like it will be Manchester United, but we can still delay it,” Wenger added. “We have a point to prove, definitely.

“We want to play for our pride and be respected for who we are, that is people who love the game they play. We promised ourselves on January 1 we would give everything in every game until the end of the season.

“That is where we can show we are capable to do that.”

Despite his faith in his own squad, Wenger acknowledges that United deserve to be on top. “The 18-point gap (between United and Arsenal) is a reflection we have to take on the chin,” he said. “What people forget is that we were very far behind and we dropped too many points.

“Manchester United are world champions, European champions and will be champions of England. Everybody has to cope with that, not accept it and come back next year and beat them.”

Arsène Wenger is backing his Arsenal FC team to deliver the “magnificent performance” required to overturn their 1-0 deficit against Manchester United FC and book a place in the final of the UEFA Champions League.

‘We can do it’
The Frenchman cited his side’s 24-match, five-year unbeaten run at home in the competition as he underlined his conviction they could eliminate the holders and earn a ticket to Rome. “I am very confident that the team will produce a magnificent performance and that we will [qualify],” he said. “We are playing a home game where we have a very strong record in the Champions League. For many people we are outsiders but I believe we can do it.”

Reason to believe
Arsenal defeated United 2-1 when the teams met in north London in November and Wenger added: “There is no mission impossible for us. It wouldn’t change my belief even if they scored.” While Wenger can draw encouragement from the fact Arsenal have not conceded a home goal in the UEFA Champions League this term – and just two in their 13 home games played in 2009 – United arrived in the capital with their own reasons to believe, having never failed to score on their three previous visits to the new Arsenal Stadium.

‘No Mission Impossible’ For Wenger’s Arsenal … read more »

Arsene Wenger is desperate to see his Arsenal side start translating their European form into a sustained Premier League challenge.

Not so long ago, the north Londoners would routinely swat aside all-comers in the domestic league while labouring horribly once they confronted the cream of European opposition.

Now, however, that scenario has been turned on its head, with Arsenal finding sweet relief from their Premier League travails in the Champions League.

Wenger’s preference for continental opposition cannot simply be measured in results, although they are undoubtedly impressive.

His team has not lost at home in 23 European games, no goals have been conceded in five Champions League ties at the Emirates this season and, after Tuesday’s 1-0 win over AS Roma, a place in the quarter-finals is beckoning.

The Frenchman will take heart from those statistics, but his real appreciation for European occasions comes in the freedom they allow his young side.

While the continental elite will generally back themselves to expose Arsenal’s soft centre at the Emirates, Premier League sides invariably think better of it, swamping midfield in an effort to squeeze the space and relying on one, muscle-bound target man to serve as an attacking outlet.

Arsenal seek formula to translate Euro form to Premier League … read more »