'No mission impossible' for Wenger's Arsenal

Arsène Wenger is backing his Arsenal FC team to deliver the "magnificent performance" required to overturn their 1-0 deficit against Manchester United FC and book a place in the final of the UEFA Champions League.

'We can do it'
The Frenchman cited his side's 24-match, five-year unbeaten run at home in the competition as he underlined his conviction they could eliminate the holders and earn a ticket to Rome. "I am very confident that the team will produce a magnificent performance and that we will [qualify]," he said. "We are playing a home game where we have a very strong record in the Champions League. For many people we are outsiders but I believe we can do it."

Reason to believe
Arsenal defeated United 2-1 when the teams met in north London in November and Wenger added: "There is no mission impossible for us. It wouldn't change my belief even if they scored." While Wenger can draw encouragement from the fact Arsenal have not conceded a home goal in the UEFA Champions League this term – and just two in their 13 home games played in 2009 – United arrived in the capital with their own reasons to believe, having never failed to score on their three previous visits to the new Arsenal Stadium.

Away goal
Sir Alex urged his players to maintain that record. "We have to go there with the intent of trying to score. I think we need to score, and that would be a big advantage to us if we did – Arsenal would then have to score three. We have got a lead and we are only one kick away from Rome, it is a big incentive for us." United's manager predicted a "very, very close" game which could go to extra time and he will hope that both Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra are fit to line up in a defence unbreached in six of their last seven UEFA Champions League away games. Ferdinand missed Saturday's 2-0 win at Middlesbrough FC with a rib injury, while Evra limped off at the Riverside.

Sharpness
Wenger has doubts over defender Mikaël Silvestre's groin injury and must also decide whether to start with leading scorer Robin van Persie, back in the squad after a fortnight's absence. The Arsenal manager made eight changes from his first-leg lineup for Saturday's 3-0 win at Portsmouth FC and expects his team will be sharper than they were at Old Trafford. "We will make sure tomorrow that sharpness, that decisiveness in the duels, is on our side this time," he said.

History
Wenger spoke about Arsenal's "empty box" as he repeated his desire to lead the club to a first European crown. He believes home advantage will play a part – "the fans will be vital" – even if the Gunners have succeeded only once in eight previous attempts to retrieve a first-leg deficit back in London in UEFA club competition. Mind, United have lost two of the three ties where they led 1-0 after the home leg – their only success the 1968 semi-final against Real Madrid CF. History will come back to haunt one of these teams – and Sir Alex, recalling previous disappointments, will hope Arsenal 2009 does not join the list of semi-finals his team have "thrown away" in the past.