Fabregas warns Gunners against taking Euro stroll

ARSENAL captain Cesc Fabregas has warned against treating Braga as a soft touch when the Gunners aim to secure a place in the last 16 of the Champions League tomorrow.

Arsene Wenger’s side swept through their opening three European fixtures as the Portuguese debutants were thrashed 6-0 at Emirates Stadium on September 15 with Partizan Belgrade beaten in Serbia and Shakhtar Donetsk then thumped 5-1.

However, the Premier League club were handed a reality check following their 2-1 defeat in Ukraine a fortnight ago, with former Arsenal striker Eduardo netting what proved to be the winning goal.

Wenger felt his team, without their then-injured skipper, had been a touch complacent in the Donbass Arena as they contrived to throw away an early lead after a fine effort on the break from Theo Walcott.

Fabregas insists lessons have been learned as Arsenal aim to get a positive result in Portugal against the team which knocked Celtic and then Sevilla out of the qualifiers – and whom also still have a realistic chance of qualifying themselves.

“We have two games left in the group, both difficult, especially the one away to Braga,” said the Spain international.

“We will do our best and if we play the football we know, focus 100% and don’t treat the opponents softly, then I am sure we can win the group.”

After slipping up against bitter rivals Tottenham on Saturday, Wenger will leave his squad all too aware of the need to maintain 100% focus in Portugal.

“We wanted to keep the urgency and our defensive tightness alive, but it is not the first time that happens and it is one of our weaknesses – many times we have come out and dropped a little bit the urgency when we are ahead,” Wenger said.

Midfielder Jack Wilshere should be involved having been left on the bench against Spurs following a back problem. Keeper Manuel Almunia may also be ready for a recall, having been sidelined since September with an elbow injury. Despite losing in the Ukraine, Arsenal still top Group H, ahead of Shakhtar on goal difference and three points clear of Braga.