Thaindian News

London, Apr 5 (ANI): Manager Arsene Wenger is convinced that his stars have the spirit of genuine champions and, is sure that even a depleted Arsenal side can overcome one of the severest tests in the club’s history tomorrow night by knocking Barcelona out of the Champions League.

Nicklas Bendtner’s injury-time winner against Wolves on Saturday once again kept Arsenal’s season on track in the Premier League.

And Wenger declared: “That spirit, we will need it at Barcelona. It is mental resilience.

“It is the tenacity of the players and the mental strength these players have in them. That is why I want them so much to be successful, because I feel they have in their bodies and in their heads the spirit of champions.”

“It’s always easier to give up and not as easy to continue to go no matter what happens. It’s a pleasure to see that from the team, as we not only have technical ability, we also have true spirit,” The Sun quoted Wenger, as saying.

Speaking of his side’s resilience, the Frenchman realise Arsenal squad has won nothing yet and has its work cut out to end a five-year trophy drought.

“You only get something at the end of the season if you have been better than all the others. It’s not what you deserve necessarily that you get. But the spirit has been spot-on through the season.

“We have been 11 points behind in the league, been written off by everybody and been dominated by Barcelona. To come back and not lose, you need something special. You can lose 7-0 against Barcelona if you have no spirit in the team. But there is something special in there,” Wenger added.

Key to Arsenal’s chances of success will be Samir Nasri. Wenger will call on Nasri to lead Arsenal to glory at Barcelona’s Nou Camp stadium in the absence of Cesc Fabregas. (ANI)