Arsenal 1 Watford 2: 'Impossible is possible' says Arsene Wenger on Barcelona trip

The Gunners trail 2-0 from the first leg against Spanish giants and were knocked out of FA Cup this weekend

Arsene Wenger looks on from the dugout during Arsenal's defeat (Getty Images)

Arsène Wenger challenged his team to respond to their FA Cup elimination by making “the impossible possible” and overturn their 2-0 Champions League last-16 deficit in Barcelona on Wednesday, adding the constant criticism was “becoming a farce”.

“We have shown we can respond always,” he said. “I think this team has a great spirit, a very strong attitude. We have an opportunity to show we are up to it.

“We want to make the impossible possible and we know we play against a very strong, strong side. We will not rest players. No, no, no, no. It’s important we go there and focus and show a very good response.”

The Arsenal manager, reacting to the suggestion that “observers thought the club’s season was over”, said: “Observers are not supporters. Supporters stand behind the club and we want to fight until the end of the season for every single game.

“What is going on at the moment is very, very difficult to take for the players but judge us at the end of the season. We have come to the end of a very, very long run in the FA Cup, so it is very sad, but we want now to focus on the next game.

“The next game is always a big challenge and you are always in the middle of a drama. It is becoming a farce. We have lost a game. We are sad and we want to focus on the next game. Arsenal has lost games before in history and we will lose again in the future. We will stick together and cope with it and prepare for the next one with complete belief.

Wenger added: “I don’t think we deserved to lose. We have to look at ourselves for the first goal, the second goal was a fantastic shot. I felt it was a real Cup game, they defended well and took their chances on the break. The few ones they had. Overall I think we had enough chances to win this game.”

The Watford manager, Quique Sanchez Flores, saw things differently. “We had problems in the last 10 minutes, but for a long time we played well. For 80 minutes we were working to the plan. We did not have many chances but they were very clear. We mixed well counter-attack with playing football, defending well.

The Spaniard added: “This is the most important game of my career. We try to enjoy this journey. It’s amazing for the people of Watford, the fans, the club, the players. This season has been amazing for Watford. It’s normal that other teams with more experience can win more games than us but the most important things we can give are passion and heart.”