Wenger expects ‘chilled’ Cesc to turn up heat on Barca

ARSENE WENGER will hope to unleash a more powerful Cesc Fabregas against his former club in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Emirates tomorrow night.

The 22-year-old Arsenal midfielder is hoping to shake off a knee injury to play against his former club but boss Wenger believes his scoring form has been the result of a calmness in front of goal and more physical power.

“I believe he is more relaxed,” said Wenger. “There is less tension in his finishing. You feel that before he wanted to force the chance and now he is more relaxed. Also he has gained more physical power. You can see he resists much more the runs of his opponents and he is more powerful in his runs. These two ingredients make a big difference.

“Also I believe the change in formation has had an impact as well. He has more freedom to join in now.”

There is certainly a similarity between Arsenal and Barca in terms of both their free-flowing football and the use of the youth system.

Xavi Hernandez, Lionel Messi and Carles Puyol have all come through the Nou Camp youth ranks while Fabregas, Alex Song and Gael Clichy have done the same at Arsenal.

While much will be made of Thierry Henry’s return to north London, Wenger believes that the nurturing of young talent gives the clubs another shared identity.

“There are similarities there in the way we play, the way we educate young players, the way we rely on young players and in the sense of belonging to the club,” added Wenger.

“I believe that we want the players to have that because it is an important part in the way we see football and I believe Barcelona has that as well.”

Wenger also believes tomorrow night’s clash with Barcelona will complete an “unbelievable” turnaround in the fortunes of Sol Campbell.

At the start of this season Campbell’s career had dipped to the extent that he joined League Two club Notts County. But after one appearance against Morecambe, Campbell is now preparing to face the most admired club side in the world.

“It is unbelievable,” said Wenger. “He played at Notts County six months ago. That he can turn up and play against Barcelona is amazing.”

Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola has promised not to ditch his attacking ideals as the Spanish giants prepare for the trip to London.

The former Spain midfielder is determined to give paying fans a show worth watching as he looks to guide the club to successive Champions League titles.

“Since I took the job, our play has been marked by brave, attacking football,” said Guardiola.

“Sometimes we’ve been bold and, occasionally, I think we’ve played audaciously. It’s a philosophy of football. Win or lose, I want us to show who we are and what kind of football we believe in. I want my team to go out and be themselves.

“Those of us lucky enough to work at this level in our profession must never forget that it’s only a sport.

“We live in a world where everything is spiralling in cost and many people need to make a big sacrifice in order to go and watch a game of football.

“So for me it all makes sense, the effort, the work, the planning, the concentration and the discipline, if you do it for the people. The manner in which we play is a demonstration of the respect we have for the people who pay for a ticket or pay money to watch matches on television.”