Wenger - It's interesting and challenging draw
Arsenal v Liverpool
Champions League Q/F Leg 1
Emirates Stadium
Wed, Apr 2, 2008, 7.45pm
By Matt Fortune
Arsène Wenger believes that Arsenal’s pairing with Liverpool in the Quarter-Final of the Champions League will be both interesting and challenging.
The draw was made on Friday afternoon at Uefa headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. It means a triple-header against the five-time European champions at the start of April — the two-legged tie sandwiching a Premier League fixture at Emirates Stadium.
League position would suggest that Arsenal are favourites to progress, but Wenger is well aware of the Merseysiders’ threat, especially in Europe.
“It is an interesting and challenging draw,” said the Frenchman. “It is a big opponent and we play them three times [in a week] and you will not know what competition it is. All that you will know is it is Liverpool.
“They raise their game in the Champions League. We know we can beat them and therefore it is the form of the day that will be the decider. We will focus and concentrate to be at our best on the day.
And is clashing with an English side a problem? Wenger doesn’t think so.
“Not especially,” he said. “You know when you have four clubs from England in the Quarter-Final, you will have to play one or two at some stage.
“If you want to go to the final and win the final you have to get through that.”