標題: Wenger Wary Of Tough Group [打印本頁] 作者: cchl8 時間: 2008-9-30 01:21 AM 標題: Wenger Wary Of Tough Group
Arsene Wenger has acknowledged that Arsenal are in their toughest ever UEFA Champions League group.
The Gunners drew 1-1 with Dynamo Kiev in Ukraine in their opening Group G game and next face Porto at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
Fenerbahce will be their other opponents and Wenger realises that it will be difficult to progress to the last 16.
The Arsenal boss understands the importance of winning at home and is targeting three points against Porto.
"This group is tougher than in previous years. It is definitely the most even group we have had because there are no easy games," Wenger said in the Sunday Mirror.
"That makes the match with Porto more important. We know in the Champions League you qualify with 10 points, so if we win our home games we are through.
"The side we played against Dynamo Kiev was very young. Theo Walcott is 19, Alexandre Song is 21, Denilson is 20 and even Cesc Fabregas is only 21.
"It is not easy to win away in the Champions League with such a lack of experience."
The Champions League was dominated by Premier League clubs last season with three teams making the semi-finals and Manchester United and Chelsea contesting an all-English final.
Wenger expects the pattern to continue this term, although he believes all four of England's representatives will be under more pressure to succeed.
He explained: "From what I've seen so far I would say the four English teams are the favourites. Inter Milan, Barcelona, Lyon and Bayern Munich are all behind them.
"Teams from abroad now know that if you get an English side you have a really tough job.
"But that means the fans' expectations are higher. They expect us to beat every team we play because of how well we have done before."
