Wenger wary of Roma technique

Arsenal FC will be defending an impressive record against Italian opposition when they take on AS Roma in the UEFA Champions League first knockout round, with Arsène Wenger anticipating an even encounter and all too aware of the importance of avoiding errors.

Technical excellence
The north London club have lost just five of their 23 encounters against Serie A teams in UEFA club competition and have recorded ten victories, including a 2-0 triumph at then-holders AC Milan at the same stage of the competition last season. However, Wenger – whose side are at home in the first leg on 24 February before travelling to Italy on 11 March – was full of praise for the opposition, explaining: "Roma are a technical side, they have players like [Daniele] De Rossi, [Alberto] Aquilani, [Simone] Perrotta, [Rodrigo] Taddei, [Júlio] Baptista who played here. They're a team where you want to defend very well. They play a lot like Barcelona, so it's a very even tie."

Final incentive
With the final at Roma's Stadio Olimpico home on 27 May 2009, Wenger believes the Italian side will have special motivation, adding: "That's a big incentive for Roma to fight hard in the second leg." The Arsenal manager is optimistic his own side will be in contention to reach that showpiece, explaining: "Of course we have a great chance of winning it, like everybody, but now it becomes a different competition. It was a championship, now it's a cup. That means form on the day makes a big difference. Before if you had one bad day you could make it up but now that's all changed. If you have five bad minutes out of 180 you will be out."

English misery
Roma, however, have been eliminated from European competition by English opposition in each of the last three seasons having lost to Middlesbrough FC in the UEFA Cup Round of 16 in 2005/06 before losing to Manchester United FC in two successive UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. Furthermore, the Italian club have been beaten on their last five visits to England – last escaping defeat in a 1-1 draw at Arsenal in March 2003 – yet coach Luciano Spalletti is in positive mood, saying: "I'm glad we'll face Arsenal. We are a team who need great games in order to play our best football and Arsenal are among the best-organised clubs in the world."

'Great coach'
Despite their recent travails against Premier League opponents Spalletti's side have won their last three UEFA Champions League matches, including a 3-1 home win against Arsenal's London rivals Chelsea FC on Matchday 4, and the coach is glad of the opportunity to pits his wits against a manager he clearly admires. "Wenger is a great coach, especially in teaching football to young players," he said. "Arsenal have several of the best young players in the world and a large squad with second-choice players who are as good as the usual starters. Like us, they concede a few goals because they play well and let their opponents play. It's a fascinating tie and a very difficult one. We'll see two good games."