Arsenal will deal with Barca later

SOCCER:ARSENE WENGER has admitted Arsenal showed Barcelona too much respect in last season's Champions League meeting, yet he is confident of a different outcome this time, even though he feels the Spanish champions have come to represent an even more daunting prospect.

The Arsenal manager said the best way to prepare for next Wednesday’s last-16 first-leg tie at the Emirates Stadium was to defeat Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League, the competition that he considers the priority.

But he did address the hot topic of Barcelona. The Spanish club’s midfielder Xavi has said recently he felt Arsenal were too ready to allow them to have the ball in both legs. He worried, though, that Arsenal might have learned their lessons while he added that it was a “disadvantage for us that we played last year”.

Wenger intends his fears to be realised. “I can’t deny we showed them too much respect last season, especially in the first half of the first game,” Wenger said. “Also, I can’t deny that it’s a disadvantage for them to play us as well. Barcelona are maybe better this season than last season, but so are we.

“The best way to be in a good position to beat Barca is to beat Wolves. That game is, in my opinion, more important by far. We started in August to fight for every single ball to be in a position to fight for the Premier League and now is the time of truth. We are in a strong position. It would be absolutely stupid now not to prioritise the Premier League.”

Wenger will keep tabs on the Manchester derby and he will be fascinated to see how United react to the end of their 29-match unbeaten league run at Wolves last Saturday.

“It’s very difficult psychologically to start again,” Wenger said. “For us, we lost the 50th game under special circumstances and it was even more difficult to swallow the sense of injustice. Will it affect United? We’ll see. Usually, they respond well. It is a derby, so anything can happen. It is maybe a chance for Man City to come back to Man United.”

Wenger was asked whether his players could handle the pressure, in light of them losing a 4-0 lead to draw 4-4 at Newcastle United last Saturday. United would fail to capitalise in the late kick-off at Molineux.

“What would you say then of Man United?” Wenger replied. “When they started their game, they knew our result. If they win, they are seven points ahead. It is the same for them, even worse.”