Wenger: Gunners can end Real domination

Arsene Wenger has insisted ahead of Arsenal’s opening Champions League group game at Highbury tonight that his side can end Real Madrid’s domination of European football.

Wenger has already shown his immense confidence in his side by declaring that they can take over from Manchester United as the leading power in English football.

Now he has claimed that Arsenal finally have what it takes to lift the Champions League after failing to get past the quarter-finals in the previous four seasons.

Captain Patrick Vieira, who admits Arsenal need to win the competition to be considered a great side, believes that Real and Bayern Munich are their main rivals, ahead of Manchester United.

However, Wenger sees no reason to worry unduly about the Spanish giants.

He respects Real’s achievements in winning the trophy twice in the past three years, as well as their spending power having just added Ronaldo to their illustrious ranks.

However, he insisted: “They are the favourites but favourites do not always win. I don’t believe Real Madrid are dominating Europe.

“They won the European Cup last season but they didn’t win their championship and lost nine games. I’m not convinced they are dominating Europe as much as everyone thinks.

“Last year, I believe they were very vulnerable. I’m not sure they would have survived in our second group. They had quite easy groups the whole season last year.

“A team is not only about buying players but growing together and slowly building belief, confidence and the connections in the team. I think we are slowly getting there.”

Wenger believes that Arsenal “deserve” to win the competition for the first time in their history. “The fans, the name of the club and the history all deserve it,” he argued.

“There is no doubt in my mind that we are better equipped than ever. We have great belief that we will do well so we will try and win it.”

Achieving that aim is another thing, but at least Arsenal should have learned from their away woes last season in Europe.

“When I went to Monaco, the club had not been past the first round of the European Cup. But we still got to the final of the Cup Winners’ Cup and the semi-final of the Champions League,” added Wenger.

“Once the players are used to it, then that is important. We are mature enough now as the players know what to expect. The most important thing is experience and top-level quality.”

Arsenal are certainly in top form, with Fredrik Ljungberg back in the first-team squad for tonight’s Champions League opener against Borussia Dortmund for the first time since his summer hip operation, while Lauren could also return from a knee problem.

Ray Parlour is still ruled out with a similar injury, while Edu is a doubt after picking up a knock at Charlton last weekend.

Wenger is nevertheless determined to ensure that his team get off to a strong start, having previously won only one of their opening four Champions League games – all of them away from home.

“It is a real test. To win would put us in a good mental condition for our first away game and so we want to capitalise on that,” he argued.