Nasri talks up ‘macho’ Gunners

SAMIR NASRI last night declared Arsenal are capable of overcoming Barcelona because they have developed into a more “macho” team.

The Gunners head to the Nou Camp on Tuesday for the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 clash convinced they can stage another stunning upset.

A 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium has offered sight of the quarter-finals, the stage at which Barcelona dumped them out of the competition last year.

Nasri revealed the Spanish champions were viewed with awe when they met in 2010, but stated reverence has since been replaced with belief. “Barcelona seemed much better last year because we’ve become more macho, both physically and psychologically,” he said at the adidas launch of the official match ball for this season’s UEFA Champions League final at Wembley.

“Some of the players are much better this year than before — Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, myself. We’ve all stepped up and become stronger and more macho. Players have stepped up and driven the team forward. We can compete with everyone now.’’

Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal are cautiously taking things “day by day” as they look to get captain Cesc Fabregas fit for the trip to Barcelona.

The Spain World Cup winner limped out of the Barclays Premier League game against Stoke last week with a hamstring problem, and missed the shock Carling Cup final defeat to Birmingham as a result.

Fabregas will not be rushed into a return for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League visit of Sunderland, a game in which Aaron Ramsey could figure in for the first time since suffering a broken leg just over a year ago, but Wenger remains optimistic the Gunners’ skipper can recover in time to face his boyhood club at the Nou Camp, where Arsenal will hold a slender 2-1 lead.

Wenger said: “As for Cesc, we go day-by-day. We assessed him today and he is positive about his injury.

“We feel he has a chance. I do not want to disappoint people so I say he has ’a chance’, I strongly believe that.”