Wenger dares to dream

Logic dictates that there is more chance of Kenny Dalglish getting a belated birthday card from Alex Ferguson than there is of Arsenal overturning a 4-0 deficit against AC Milan in the Champions League.

Not that that will stop the Gunners trying.

Dalglish turned 61 yesterday and ‘celebrated’ by carrying out a post-mortem into a defeat which proved his Anfield restoration work is far from complete, despite ending Liverpool’s six-year wait for silverware the previous weekend.

The newly-crowned Carling Cup winners were on the receiving end of Arsenal’s latest impressive comeback top-flight win.

For the third successive league game, Arsene Wenger’s side came from behind to secure the points at Anfield.

It might not have been as impressive as the stunning 5-2 north London derby victory against Tottenham six days earlier, but if AC Milan think their place in the quarter-finals of Europe’s elite competition is secured, they could be in for a surprise when they visit the Emirates tomorrow.

Of course, it will require a herculean effort just for Arsenal to bring the tie back to life following the abject first leg surrender in Italy last month.

But with Robin van Persie in the form of his life, Wenger is daring to dream. And why not after his team’s win at Anfield?

“We want to make the impossible possible — that is basically our target,” said the Arsenal manager.

“At first look it appears impossible. But you have to have a real go and play with belief and think you can do it. You never know in the game. We have nothing to lose.”

As for van Persie, who destroyed Liverpool with a sublime stoppage-time finish, Wenger added: “I just do not want him to play with too much pressure. I just want him to enjoy the game and I feel as long as the theory of scoring is not interrupted, the confidence of the player is high and he scores naturally.

“Once you do not score in two or three games you become a little bit more edgy. So the best thing is for him to score goals.”

Wojciech Szczesny, the Arsenal goalkeeper, echoed his manager’s thoughts on how to approach the AC Milan game. “Why not? Let’s win 5-0 and beat Barcelona in the quarter-finals! Realistically it is going to be really, really hard but we have shown in the last two games what we can do. We are just going to give it a go.”

Liverpool only had themselves to blame for their latest Anfield setback. Yes, Steven Gerrard was missing because of a sore hamstring but that was no excuse for poor finishing and sloppy defending by the hosts.

Luis Suarez won a penalty and hit the woodwork, Dirk Kuyt missed a penalty and hit the woodwork while Martin Kelly mis-kicked from three-yards in front of the Kop.

It was left to van Persie to dish out a lesson in the art of finishing, the Netherlands forward displaying tremendous skill and composure to rifle home a volleyed winner — his 25h Premier League goal of the season — during eight minutes of stoppage time.

Liverpool, who had gone ahead through Laurent Koscielny’s own goal, had looked set to settle for a point after van Persie had headed Arsenal level.

It was a thrilling game but that was no comfort for Dalglish, whose side have won just four times in 13 league games at home this season.

“We might have to learn to win ugly,” he said.

As for Wenger, victory at Anfield was sweet after his side were blown away by Liverpool at the Emirates at the start of the season.

“We were a bit of a shambles then because we were in a little bit of disarray,” he added.

“We had a full transfer period and we were unstable. We have since come back into a much better position and we are much more solid. We have 49 points. At the time we last played Liverpool we were 17th in the league so we had first of all, room for improvement, and I think we have improved a lot.”

Wenger has injury worries ahead of tomorrow’s tie at home to AC Milan.

Midfielder Mikel Arteta was taken to hospital with a neck problem, having left the field on a stretcher, while Abou Diaby and Yossi Benayoun (both hamstring) and Kieran Gibbs are all doubts for midweek.

“We looked decimated after the game and I don’t know who will be available for Tuesday night,” he said.

“Maybe I will play with six strikers any way because we have to score goals.”