Paciênca preaches positive mindset for Braga

SC Braga coach Domingos Paciênca urged his players to take the game to Arsenal FC as they bid to keep their hopes of UEFA Champions League progress alive against the Group H leaders. " We have to be aggressive," said Paciênca, who is also hoping for a favour from FK Partizan when they take on second-placed FC Shakhtar Donetsk. Arsène Wenger, meanwhile, is desperate for his side to succeed but appreciates their hosts will be a very different side from the one defeated 6-0 in north London on Matchday 1.

Domingos Paciênca, Braga coach
It's unique for me and the team, because it's the first time Braga have faced Arsenal at home. We have to face the English with a very positive mindset and although we know the value of their team and players, we still think that we have what it takes to win. I always think that it's possible to win, even if we know that it's against one of the best teams in the world, and I want to believe our fans will live a historic moment here.

The first objective was to get to the Europa League, and that is done, but in this group none of the teams have qualified yet. We are also waiting on Partizan's match [against second-placed Shakhtar]. If Arsenal had won against Shakhtar the maths would be very different, but the main thing is to do our own job. We have to be aggressive, in the right way, against Arsenal.

Arsène Wenger, Arsenal manager
We will try to win in Portugal for the first time, but Braga are a good team so we expect them to put on a good display. We feel we're in a strong position to go through to the next phase and that's what we came here for, to take that final step. I believe Braga will forget the result from our first meeting. A game away from home in the Champions League is a different game than at home. Braga have a good side that impressed me in the first 20 minutes of the home game.

As for our team, we know that if we play at our best we can win anywhere. I want this team to win so much that I am giving every drop of my blood to make sure this team wins. I want them to be successful because they deserve it.

Team news
• Braga
Paulão has not played since sustaining a thigh problem against SC Olhanense on 23 October. Quim ruptured his right Achilles tendon in pre-season training and is expected to be out until the new year.

• Arsenal
Gaël Clichy (back), Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles), Manuel Almunia (elbow) and Abou Diaby (ankle) are all out, while Andrey Arshavin and Robin van Persie have been rested. Nicklas Bendtner (groin) is back in contention but Emmanuel Frimpong (knee) has been ruled out until 2011. Aaron Ramsey is back in training after breaking his leg in February, while Jack Wilshere (back) returned at the weekend.

Weekend results
20/11/10 SL Benfica P-P Braga
Braga's Portuguese Cup fourth-round fixture at Benfica was postponed due to the NATO summit which took place in Lisbon on 19 and 20 November. The tie will now be held on 12 December.

20/11/10 Arsenal 2-3 Tottenham Hotspur FC
(Nasri 9, Chamakh 27; Bale 50, Van der Vaart 67pen, Kaboul 85)
Arsenal let slip a two-goal lead to lose at home to north London rivals Tottenham for the first time since 1993. The Gunners have suffered successive home league defeats for the first time since 1997.

Did you know?
When, in 1921, Braga changed their team shirts from two large green and white vertical stripes, they took Arsenal's red-and-white colours as their inspiration. Since then they have been known as Minho's Arsenalistas.

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