Arsene Wenger admits that Atletico Madrid are the most difficult potential opposition Arsenal could face in the Europa League semi-finals but says that both Salzburg and Marseille are potenially tough places to go too.
The draw takes place this morning, and the Gunners are in the hat after a 2-2 draw in Moscow gave us a 6-3 aggregate win.
It wasn’t our best performance by any means, but qualification is the most important thing, and now we wait to see who we might get.
Speaking afterwards, the Arsenal boss said, “Everybody speaks about Atletico Madrid, they look strongest on paper from now on, but you must recognise as well the result that Salzburg has achieved.
“I am from France, Marseille are in there as well which is always a difficult place to go.
“Maybe it’s better I don’t wish for anybody and just wait for the draw tomorrow. Let’s just play well against the team we get.”
It’s also our first European semi-final since the Champions League in 2009, a record Wenger admits should be better.
“It should be every year and it’s never enough,” he said. “But you could see again this week in Europe you have a lot of turnarounds and you have to be focused in every game.
“So let’s prepare well in the semi and let’s see who we play.”
I don’t think we are an underdog and should be scared of any of these teams. Respect them, yes, but we have more than enough quality to pick them off.
The aim should be to make Diego Costa mad at any cost.
Isn’t Costa injured for few weeks?
http://www.goal.com/en/news/costa-and-lucas-injured-as-atletico-book-europa-league-semi/1jkz8ufoztc3717eyofi0cfz05
Get Holding on to him!
I would rather face Atletico in a two-legged semi, with the first leg away.
I’d rather face Salzburg in the semi final, then Marseille in the final.
well I’d say that if we have to face atletico then it’d be better in the semi than the final
yup, that was what I meant to say. I would rather meet them in a potential semi-final, than a one-off final. Of course, as Pedant points out, not meeting them at all gives us the best chance 🙂
Shame it is Athletico and the legs the wrong way round.
What will be,will be. We are good enough to beat any of the remaining teams in the SF and F.
We have to not “Do an Arsenal” and do the common sense things all over the park which means no place for Jack.He appears to have lost the plot or knows he is leaving.
Vote Arseblog here: https://twitter.com/TheFBAs/status/981488048373420033
I am not being cynical, but going by our luck in the champions league in recent years, i wouldn’t be surprised if we get Athletico in the next round, but then we have to play them anyway to win the cup, although admittedly, as pointed out by some commentators on other treads, its better to play them in the final, which is a single meet, rather than semis, which is twice. I agree….., however, regardless of whatever, we shouldn’t under any circumstances go into the game (s?) regarding ourselves as underdogs to them. We are the Arsenal. I believe, we… Read more »
‘Prepare well’ and then what? It really doesn’t matter who we get.every one of us will be holding our breath at the start of the match wondering what arsenal has turned up. We could beat any team or equally shit the place out. Exciting but nervous times.