Roman conquest can inspire Gunners
England winger Walcott — now fit again following four months out with a shoulder problem — feels events in Rome will serve as an inspiration for the battles ahead between now and what could even be a potential return to the Italian capital for the Champions League final at the end of the campaign.
“If we had lost, there would have been a lot of players down, but now everyone is buzzing,” said Walcott.
“Hopefully this result will show everyone we are a great unit and we will see where it takes us.”
Walcott revealed: “The dressing room after the game was like we had just won the World Cup final.
“The atmosphere is brilliant. Even though there are all sorts of nationalities in there, we all get along and we are like a family.”
Arsenal hope to soon have captain Cesc Fabregas match fit again following a long injury lay-off with a knee problem, while Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor should also be in contention for next month’s Champions League quarter-final tie.
Manager Arsene Wenger urged for his squad to retain focus and immediately turn their attentions back to the Premier League, with the visit of relegation battlers Blackburn as the Gunners aim to overhaul fourth-placed Aston Villa, whom they now trail by only three points.
However they’ll have to overcome Rovers without Eduardo, who picked up a groin problem in Rome.
“Unfortunately we have lost Eduardo with a groin problem,” Arsene Wenger confirmed.
“He got it in the first half of extra time and I wonder if that stopped him from taking his penalty that well.
“It shows you that no matter what you do in training when you go to the uncontrolled movements of top, top level competition your body needs time to adjust. It is only a short-term injury but he is out for Saturday.”
Arsenal are still alive in the FA Cup having beaten Burnley at the weekend but it is Europe’s premier club competition that now takes centre stage for the Gunners this season.
“We have more chance of wining the Champions League than any other title this year,” believes goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.
“But the Champions League is a difficult competition. We have taken one step forward and there is no reason why we cannot continue to dream.”
One thing Almunia hopes to avoid is an all-English quarter-final showdown for Arsenal.
“Any team would like to face the likes of FC Porto or Villarreal in the next round,” he said. “No offence to these teams because they have merited being there. But I’d rather avoid an English side next. In any case, at this point of the season, any opponent will be difficult.”
Meanwhile Italian football woke up yesterday to the realisation that they will have no side in the last eight.
Reflected Roma veteran Francesco Totti: “It would have been better to lose 3-0, this feels like getting knifed. When am I going to get another chance like this?”
Yesterday’s Gazzetta dello Sport headline read: “Maledizione!” — “It’s a curse!”
“The biggest reason for this crisis is economics,” AC Milan chairman Adriano Galliani said.
“English clubs, thanks most of all to their stadiums, have much higher revenue than our clubs. England and Spain are far superior in this area, and it’s a serious problem.”
Roma’s exit was the most dramatic, with Max Tonetto — the Giallorossi’s eighth man to step up to the spot in the shootout — sending his penalty high to give Arsenal the win.
“I’m sorry for all these fans that supported us non-stop for two hours,” Tonetto said. “My teammates tried to console me, but it hasn’t helped much.”
After three straight Serie A titles and no European Cup since 1965, Inter’s fans likely have different priorities.
“To win the Champions League you need a boat full of money and constant improvement,” said coach Jose Mourinho. “And that’s what we’re doing. (United) is superior in physical stature, speed and deadball kicks. But I don’t have anything to criticise my players about. To win the Champions League, you’ve got to grow step by step.”
Mourinho said he would seek a meeting with Inter president Massimo Moratti to express his views for the future.
“Next year Inter is going to need some new players, and others like (Mario) Balotelli will have improved,” Mourinho said.
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