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Wenger: Arsenal now have what it takes to knock Barcelona out

Gunners manager confident his team can win Champions League last-16 tie having matured since last year's defeat

John Nisbet
Wednesday 16 February 2011 01:00 GMT
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Arsene Wenger believes that the gap between his side and Barcelona has narrowed since the Spanish champions knocked Arsenal out of the Champions League. A year on from that chastening encounter, Arsenal go into tonight's first leg of the round-of-16 tie at the Emirates with their manager insisting that they are a mentally stronger team now.

In last season's quarter-final, Arsenal were humbled 6-3 on aggregate, losing 4-1 at the Nou Camp after Lionel Messi plundered four goals and escaping with a 2-2 draw at home. The encounters pointed to a gulf in class but Wenger insisted that over the last 12 months Arsenal, who welcome back Samir Nasri from injury, have been transformed.

"We don't deny the quality of Barcelona, but what is important for us is we have a good opportunity to show who we are now," he said. "Not only that, we also want to show Barcelona we are capable of knocking them out. We have the belief and a strong togetherness to show we are a different team now. In the first half of the home game last year we were spectators a little bit and were a bit inhibited. I believe that confidence-wise and mentally we are a completely different team today.

"If you look at the predictions pre-season, nobody in England predicted we would be where we are today. We have made our own way through our own strength and mental belief. Losing to Barcelona made us better. We are now a stronger team because we have attitude. We are in an ideal condition to face Barcelona. We want to show how good we are."

Arsenal welcome back Nasri from a hamstring injury and Tomas Rosicky has recovered from a groin problem, but Abou Diaby is out with a sore calf. Nasri, the top scorer with 14 goals, trained and could start the first leg.

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