Arsene Wenger believes fate is propelling Arsenal towards victory over Barcelona in the most-eagerly anticipated Champions League final in years.
The Frenchman has seen his young side defy the odds on their way to a Stade de France rendezvous with Barcelona, the one side in Europe who can reasonably claim to combine entertainment and efficiency as attractively as his own side.
And with each round, Wenger’s belief that this could be the year for his side to become the first London club to lift European football’s biggest prize has grown.
Famous victories over Real Madrid and Juventus were achieved with the help of Arsenal unexpectedly having the weekend off before both first legs.
An early FA Cup exit ensured Wenger’s men were fresh for the trip to Real while a freakish last-minute downpour forced the postponement of a Premiership match against Portsmouth before Juve came to Highbury.
Both matches effectively decided the tie and Wenger admitted: ”Those are the kind of signs that strengthen your belief. It is not signs that make you win, but they do offer a psychological comfort that allows you to believe a little more.”
Arsenal’s success in Europe has spectacularly vindicated Wenger’s faith in the ability of his young players to cope after the departure of Patrick Vieira.
The former captain’s strength and leadership was badly missed as Arsenal struggled domestically. But a different scenario has been played out on the European stage, with Cesc Fabregas growing into Vieira’s boots in midfield while a cobbled-together defence has fused into a unit to rival great Arsenal back fours of the past.
Wenger admits there were times when even he had some doubts. ”At times I really felt as if I was swimming against the tide and when everyone says ‘he doesn’t know what he’s talking about’ you have to ask yourself the question,” he said.
Any fixture involving Ronaldinho, the Brazilian heartbeat of Barca, and Thierry Henry, the Arsenal skipper who could well be gracing the Nou Camp next season, would not have much difficulty drawing a crowd.
But it is the shared philosophy of Wenger and Barca coach Frank Rijkaard that has so many hoping for a classic final.
Barcelona’s style, according to Ronaldinho, can be termed ”a la Rijkaard”.
”It’s what you dream about playing as a footballer,” says the Brazilian. ”We are given complete freedom to attack.”
All the ingredients are there, but Henry cautions those who argue that fireworks are inevitable. ”At the end of the day it is about winning. People said there would be lots of goals in the Milan-Barca semi but there were hardly any. It is difficult to call, but you have certainly got the players to put on a show in Paris.”
Wenger believes the character of the match will be determined by whether either side manages to score early on.
”In terms of completed passes, we are the two best teams in the competition. Barca move the ball around very quickly but they also press very quickly. If we can deal with that, then we have a chance.
”In many games like that, it can be quite closed at the start, but if one team scores early, I’m sure we will have an open entertaining game.”
Arsenal’s success in Europe has been built on a tactical shift that has seen Henry operate as a lone striker ahead of a five-man midfield.
”I think we would have scored more goals with two strikers but we would also have conceded more,” reflected Wenger.
The solidity of Wenger’s system is sure to be severely tested by Ronaldinho and company on Wednesday evening but Barca, who are far from impregnable defensively and have looked fatigued in recent matches, will have to be equally wary about the threat posed by Arsenal’s deadly counter-attacking.
Rijkaard has ruled out man-marking Henry and will take a 22-man squad, including teenage sensation Lionel Messi, to Paris now that the Argentinian youngster has been declared fit after a lengthy injury lay-off.
Messi, who tore a thigh muscle during Barcelona’s victory over Chelsea in the last 16, came through a Nou Camp training session without any difficulties, to Rijkaard’s delight.
The Dutch manager will only name his 18-man squad for the final on the day of the match.
Although Barcelona start as favourites, midfielder Deco was anxious to play down surging optimism amongst the Catalans’ fans that a repeat of their 1992 triumph is on the cards.
”We’ve got a difficult match to play and we haven’t won anything yet,” Deco warned. ”We’ve got to stay calm and play our game, and have total concentration because Arsenal are very dangerous on the counter-attack.”
Two of the heroes of Arsenal’s wins over Real and Juventus, meanwhile, are set to miss the final.
Young Swiss centre-back Philippe Senderos, who has been out of action with a knee injury, is expected to make way for Sol Campbell, while Ashley Cole’s recovery from injury will mean Mathieu Flamini missing out at left-back. — AFP
