Champions League: Wenger puts chances of comeback at ‘five per cent’

ARSENE Wenger has called on his Arsenal team to believe they can rewrite the record books and overturn AC Milan’s 4-0 lead to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League tonight.

The Arsenal manager was left crestfallen in the San Siro a fortnight ago, having witnessed his side taken apart by the Rossoneri, as a stunning opener from former Tottenham midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng was followed by a brace by ex-Manchester City striker Robinho before a late penalty by Zlatan Ibrahimovic effectively ended the tie as a contest.

After what he described as a “shocking performance”, Wenger felt little genuine hope of progress. However, two morale-boosting victories over Tottenham and then Liverpool to kickstart their Barclays Premier League campaign, the Arsenal manager will take only positive thoughts into tonight’s European showdown.

“I don’t live in a dream world – that means I know we have not created an easy situation, but when you are a top-level competitor, even if statistically we have a five per cent chance, what is important is that we believe that we can be in this five per cent chance,” Wenger said.

“That is what is at stake for us – to show that we have the quality to believe we can do it, even if it is only five per cent. Let us make sure that we do not miss our chance because we did not believe in it.”

Arsenal are short of options in midfield, with Czech playmaker Tomas Rosicky facing a late fitness test on a groin problem and Mikel Arteta needing to rest for a week after suffering a blow to the head in a collision with Jordan Henderson during Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League win at Anfield.

However, they still have plenty of firepower in attack, with Theo Walcott, Gervinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all ready to support 31-goal skipper Robin van Persie.

Blackburn were swept aside 7-1 at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League, while arch-rivals Tottenham were beaten 5-2 in a game in which Arsenal had trailed 2-0.

Arsenal’s record Champions League home win came in the 2007/2008 group stages when Slavia Prague were thrashed 7-0, while three seasons ago Porto were beaten 5-0 in the second leg of the knockout stages, having won the first leg 2-1.

Wenger said: “I know my players well, I know they have been hurt by the first result, and I know they have their pride. They will come out and give a performance. We lost 4-0 at Milan, but they had five shots on target and we had 55% possession there and we didn’t play well at all. If they can score four we can as well, why not?