Wenger won´t change Arsenal style for Barca clash

Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal will stick to their purist principles when they take on Barcelona in Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg.

Reigning champions Barcelona are well established as the most eye-catching team in Europe after Lionel Messi, Xavi, Thierry Henry and company produced a series of dazzling displays en route to the treble last season.

Even teams with the quality of Chelsea and Manchester United opted for a cautious gameplan when they met Pep Guardiola’s side in the Champions League.

But those attempts to subdue the Catalans’ attacking instincts ended in failure and Arsenal manager Wenger believes changing tactics would be a mistake because his players function best when they are allowed to express themselves.

“The best way target is to first win the game. Is the ugly way the best way to win? That is where you have to convince me,” Wenger said.

“I believe the most efficient way is to play good football and not to kick the ball in the stand, because there is no goal there, the goal is on the pitch.

“We will try to play the way we are used to – you cannot change that from one match to the next, but we do want to be efficient with our game.

Wenger acknowledges that Barca possess some of the finest players in the world, but he insists Arsenal can shock the pundits who make the Spanish champions favourites to go through to the semi-finals.

“If we produce the best performance we can we can beat any side in the world,” Wenger said.

“I don’t deny their quality. They have an exceptional team but I think that we are an exceptional team as well and the form of the day, the desire, the belief, how much we play for each other will make the difference.

“We have of course to cancel their strengths but they will have the same problem. So it is how much we believe in our strengths that can make the difference on the day.”

Even playing the first leg at home doesn’t faze Wenger, who claims Arsenal will have established a significant advantage if they avoid conceding an away goal at the Emirates Stadium.

“I am not too bothered (about playing the first leg at home) because statistically it doesn’t have a big meaning when you look at the teams who qualify. I just believe you need 180 minutes at the top level against a team like Barcelona,” Wenger said.

“And of course you want at home to keep a cleansheet. The weight of an away goal in the European Cup is enormous. So for us to have a good defensive performance and a team of that offensive power will be important.”

One of the most intriguing sub-plots of the tie is Thierry Henry’s first return to Arsenal since the French forward left for Barca in 2007.

Henry is still worshipped by Arsenal’s fans following his eight-year spell in north London and Wenger will be happy for him to be given a warm welcome – as long as the players don’t follow suit once the match starts.

“He is still a threat because he is an exceptional talent and a ery intelligent talent as well,” Wenger said.

“We are happy to see him back at the Emirates and he will get the warm welcome that he deserves and when the game starts it will be a quarter-final of the Champions League where we will give everything to beat him.”

After losing to Barca in the 2006 Champions League final, Arsenal have plenty of motivation to cause an upset and Wenger can’t wait to pit his wits against such world-class opposition.

“The last time we played against Barcelona was in the final and it was a one off. This time certainly the tactics will have a bigger part to play,” Wenger added.