Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted his team have a big hurdle to overcome on Wednesday if they want to reach the last 16 of the Champions League, but the Frenchman is confident.
The English Premier League side have to beat hosts Olympiakos by at least two clear goals — or beat them by one but by scoring at least three times — to go through.
But the in-form hosts are unbeaten in their domestic league and beat Arsenal 3-2 at the Emirates Stadium in September.
“If you want to jump a hurdle, you do not think what happens if you miss it. We have a history of positive results, we have won everywhere in Europe and we know we can do it,” said Wenger at Tuesday’s press conference.
Last season against Monaco in the last 16, Arsenal lost 3-1 at home but could only win 2-0 away as they crashed out.
“We can learn from that. The game we played was very positive, maybe we rushed it in the last 10 minutes. That’s what we can learn. I believed we played quite well in that game,” Wenger recalled.
The Arsenal mentor said that a quick first goal against Olympiakos will be the key to success, and to avoid breaking their 15-year streak of reaching the knock-out rounds.
“As long as you don’t win any competition, it is bad. On the other hand, we have got out of the group stage 15 times consecutively, so you can say that’s a good habit,” he added.
Wenger said he hoped Olympiakos woiuld be feeling the strain of trying to get out of the group.
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