Wenger ready for Barca showdown

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes getting past Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League is ‘difficult but possible’.

Wenger was speaking after the Gunners were paired with the Catalan giants to play each other in the next stage of the Champions League, a rematch of last season’s quarter-final.

On that occasion Barca triumphed 6-3 over the two legs but Wenger denies the match will be a revenge mission for his side and said his team have improved since last season.

“My reaction is very simple – difficult but possible,” Wenger told the club’s website.

“I didn’t want anybody really, in that all teams would have been difficult. You could have said that Schalke – a team with less history in the Champions League – would have been easier maybe. But the advantage is that we will be on our toes and we’ll be ready.”

“Revenge is not on my mind. We want to qualify and we want to knock them out. So is it difficult? Yes. Is it possible? Yes.”

Wenger said while Barcelona – currently leading La Liga by two points – will not be easy, Pep Guardiola’s side will not have wanted to draw the Londoners.

“Barcelona are certainly the favourites (for the competition) and a famous team but, on their side, they did not want us either because they know they will get a game,” he said.

“I think we are better than last year and we have a good opportunity to show that. I won’t come out on (how we will make it a different game).”

But with the first leg to be played in mid-February, Wenger admits it is too far away to dissect potential match-ups and speak about how his side can beat Barca.

Guardiola said he is looking forward to the ties against Arsenal and said the matches played will be ‘very special’.

“Last season we played a great couple of games which was down to the similar style of football both teams play; this time it’s also going to be very special,” Guardiola said.

“We will have to wait and see how the teams are doing when February comes around because our respective form at the moment isn’t important in terms of the tie.”

Guardiola is well aware of the threat Arsenal pose and said his defence will need to be at their best to keep a powerful attack quiet.

“Arsenal haven’t got a single bad player, in fact they have several excellent ones like (Samir) Nasri, Cesc (Fabregas) and (Marouane) Chamakh,” he said.

“They might not be winning trophies lately but they are always up there with the best. From what I’ve been seeing they are continuing to play well with their distinctive style.”

“They force you to be on top of your game defensively. If you are not at your best they can steam roller you.”

The first leg will be played on either February 15, 16, 22 or 23 with the return leg to be played on either March 8, 9, 15 or 16.