Wenger banks on something ‘special’

LONDON — Olivier Giroud described football as “an everlasting new beginning” on Saturday but, if there was ever one ending that he must yearn to script, it is surely Arsenal’s Champions League tie against Monaco today (tomorrow morning, Singapore time).

“We can go there and create something special,” said Arsene Wenger after a 3-0 win against West Ham United in the English Premier League on Saturday that mirrors the scoreline his team now need on the Cote d’Azur tomorrow following their 3-1 defeat in the first leg at the Emirates.

History suggests Arsenal will need something of a fairy tale as no club has overcome an equivalent first-leg deficit in Champions League history, but there are reasons for hope.

Arsenal have now won 19 of their past 24 matches and, after reaching the FA Cup semi-finals, have ended the week within a point of Manchester City in the Premier League.

For Giroud, it is now 11 goals in 16 games. But Wenger says he was never concerned for the resilience of a player who was playing in the lower divisions of the French league only five years ago.

“There are always tough moments,” said Giroud. “You have to question yourself every week and bounce back. Football is a sport where you need to have a strong mentality. I know when I play well or not. I think we learnt from our mistakes and we will go to Monaco with a lot of confidence.”

Wenger has since sat down and analysed those mistakes with the players. He believes that kamikaze attacking was Arsenal’s problem, rather than complacency.

“We knew that we were impatient and threw ourselves forward too much,” said Wenger. “I think we wanted it too much. We forgot our basics. What you want in life is the chance to put it right. Sometimes you make a big mistake and there’s no comeback. We have the opportunity.”

It might sound like straw-clutching but, from their recent experience in the Champions League of almost overturning big first-leg deficits, Arsenal know that Monaco will be unsure how to approach tomorrow’s game. Wenger sought to underline that psychological dilemma when asked if the pressure would be on his old club.

“They’ve already won it, they can still lose it,” he said. Team selection will clearly be vital and, after Aaron Ramsey scored for the first time in 2015, Wenger must decide whether to recall Santi Cazorla.

TV Times:

Monaco v Arsenal — Singtel TV Ch111, 3.45am*

Atletico Madrid v Bayer Leverkusen — Singtel TV Ch112, 3.45am*

* Wednesday morning, Singapore time.