Arsene Wenger has urged Arsenal to shrug off the loss of Cesc Fabregas and pull together to see off Udinese in their Champions League play-off on Tuesday night.
Although Wenger has plenty of money to spend following the sale of Fabregas to Barcelona - a switch completed today with the Spain midfielder re-joining his hometown club in a £35 million deal - a place in the lucrative group stages of Europe's elite club competition remains of paramount importance.
And to that end, Wenger has called on his squad to unite and claim a first-leg lead to take to Udine next week.
"I expect my team to have a good game and that will encourage their belief and strengthen their belief. At the moment that is the most important thing," the Frenchman said.
"I understand everybody's worry, but I believe as well a club is a united front.
"Our players need the support from our fans.
"It is an important period for this club, but I am confident we will get over it in a very successful way.
"We need to remain united and not let the media manipulate our fans in a way they should not."
Wenger, though, knows failure to beat Udinese - when the Gunners are without suspended duo Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie - will leave more unanswered questions.
"You never knock somebody from Italy out in an easy way so we prepare ourselves for big challenges," he said.
"But we know we are prepared for that and we are ready to give our all to be part of the Champions League group stage.
"We will try to give our best to win the game tomorrow without conceding goals.
"I expect a game of 180 minutes where we will have to be at the top for as long as we can and not dream that after 90 minutes it will be over. That would be the right approach."
Wenger must also serve a one-match touchline ban imposed by UEFA following the fall-out from Arsenal's Champions League exit away to Barcelona last season, where Swiss referee Massimo Busacca had controversially dismissed Van Persie and came in for heavy criticism from both the Arsenal manager and Nasri.
"The preparation is exactly the same - the only thing is I cannot go into the dressing room. I hope that will not have a big impact," Wenger said.
Lyon host Rubin Kazan with the hosts again without key central defender Cris.
The Brazilian missed Les Gones' second Ligue 1 game of the season at the weekend, a 1-1 draw at home to Ajaccio, with a thigh problem and he will not have recovered in time to face the Russians at the Stade Gerland.
Tuesday night's other ties see FC Twente host Benfica, Bate Borisov meet Sturm Graz and Viktoria Plzen go to FC Copenhagen.
Wednesday night's action is highlighted by Bayern Munich's clash with FC Zurich.
Bayern have made a mixed start to the new Bundesliga season although the weekend win at Wolfsburg has lifted the pressure which was already starting to grow on new coach Jupp Heynckes.
Striker Ivica Olic has demanded Bayern build on the display against Wolfsburg and gain a first-leg advantage at the Allianz Arena.
He told the Tz newspaper: "Bayern must come again.
"Zurich are a good side but certainly not a top team.
"We need to score goals and we need more than one."
Villarreal face a tricky trip to Odense while Wisla Krakow host Cypriot champions APOEL Nicosia, Maccabi Haifa host Genk and Malmo go to Dinamo Zagreb.
Read more...
Although Wenger has plenty of money to spend following the sale of Fabregas to Barcelona - a switch completed today with the Spain midfielder re-joining his hometown club in a £35 million deal - a place in the lucrative group stages of Europe's elite club competition remains of paramount importance.
And to that end, Wenger has called on his squad to unite and claim a first-leg lead to take to Udine next week.
"I expect my team to have a good game and that will encourage their belief and strengthen their belief. At the moment that is the most important thing," the Frenchman said.
"I understand everybody's worry, but I believe as well a club is a united front.
"Our players need the support from our fans.
"It is an important period for this club, but I am confident we will get over it in a very successful way.
"We need to remain united and not let the media manipulate our fans in a way they should not."
Wenger, though, knows failure to beat Udinese - when the Gunners are without suspended duo Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie - will leave more unanswered questions.
"You never knock somebody from Italy out in an easy way so we prepare ourselves for big challenges," he said.
"But we know we are prepared for that and we are ready to give our all to be part of the Champions League group stage.
"We will try to give our best to win the game tomorrow without conceding goals.
"I expect a game of 180 minutes where we will have to be at the top for as long as we can and not dream that after 90 minutes it will be over. That would be the right approach."
Wenger must also serve a one-match touchline ban imposed by UEFA following the fall-out from Arsenal's Champions League exit away to Barcelona last season, where Swiss referee Massimo Busacca had controversially dismissed Van Persie and came in for heavy criticism from both the Arsenal manager and Nasri.
"The preparation is exactly the same - the only thing is I cannot go into the dressing room. I hope that will not have a big impact," Wenger said.
Lyon host Rubin Kazan with the hosts again without key central defender Cris.
The Brazilian missed Les Gones' second Ligue 1 game of the season at the weekend, a 1-1 draw at home to Ajaccio, with a thigh problem and he will not have recovered in time to face the Russians at the Stade Gerland.
Tuesday night's other ties see FC Twente host Benfica, Bate Borisov meet Sturm Graz and Viktoria Plzen go to FC Copenhagen.
Wednesday night's action is highlighted by Bayern Munich's clash with FC Zurich.
Bayern have made a mixed start to the new Bundesliga season although the weekend win at Wolfsburg has lifted the pressure which was already starting to grow on new coach Jupp Heynckes.
Striker Ivica Olic has demanded Bayern build on the display against Wolfsburg and gain a first-leg advantage at the Allianz Arena.
He told the Tz newspaper: "Bayern must come again.
"Zurich are a good side but certainly not a top team.
"We need to score goals and we need more than one."
Villarreal face a tricky trip to Odense while Wisla Krakow host Cypriot champions APOEL Nicosia, Maccabi Haifa host Genk and Malmo go to Dinamo Zagreb.
Read more...
