Beat Fernebache, Wenger Charges Arsenal

Taking on Fenerbahce of Turkey in the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium will certainly prove a test of character, but Arsene Wenger is confident it is one which his Arsenal can pass.

The omens ahead of tonight’s UEFA Champions League cracker are mixed. The Gunners are seeking to extend their participation in the group phase of the League to 16 consecutive years and, in that time, they have previously come through five play-off matches at a combined aggregate score of 24-3. Wenger’s belief is that his team have strong character to win tonight’s match.

In the 2008/2009 campaign, the Gunners beat Fenerbahce 5-2, which ended the Turkish side’s impressive 15-match unbeaten home run in Europe.

Wenger said: “We try to win everywhere we go. That is the only target we have to set ourselves.

“We respect Fenerbahce highly but in the history of our club we have gone everywhere, all over, and always had a desire to win and that is what we will do again.”

It is arguable, though, whether they have previously faced such dangerous opponents amid such a backdrop of negativity back home. As well as the supporters’ anger over Arsenal’s inactivity in the transfer market, injuries and form are a major concern.

The good news was that Bacary Sagna, Kieran Gibbs, Tomas Rosicky, Aaron Ramsey and Nacho Monreal all travelled following injury scares, but Wenger confirmed that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would be out for at least six weeks with a strain to his posterior cruciate ligament.

Goalkeeper is also again an area of concern, with Wojciech Szczesny’s mistakes against Villa on Saturday doing nothing to settle the issue amid competition from Lukasz Fabianski. “There is a fight going for the two keepers – Fabianski will have his chances,” Wenger said.

Per Mertesacker has particular experience playing in Turkey and has told his team-mates that it will be critical tonight for Arsenal to quickly deflate the atmosphere. “You have to be aware of the first 20 minutes,” he said. “You have to keep them as quiet as possible and that’s very hard.”

Ersun Yanal, the Fenerbahce manager, seemed conscious that the challenge facing Arsenal just now was as much mental as physical. “The pressure is on – I trust my players and I think we will finish the first-leg with the advantage,” he said.