Make Bayern pay, Wenger urges players

Arsene Wenger admitted it is a “miracle” Arsenal are still in Champions League contention as he urged his players to make Bayern Munich pay tomorrow night for their lack of a killer instinct.

Arsenal were 3-0 down in the first leg in Munich, only for Torsten Frings to miss a clear chance to put the tie beyond reach.

Kolo Toure duly pulled back an away goal, leaving Arsenal needing a 2-0 victory at home tomorrow to reach the quarter-finals.

Wenger appealed to his players’ pride as he admitted: “It is a miracle that we are still in it.

“We should have been out. They could – and should – have been 4-0 up but we got back to 3-1.

“I feel that will play on their minds. They will know that they could’ve been qualified already and they are now under threat.

“We can play on that psychologically because it will be in their minds if we can take control of the game.”

Asked if this would be Arsenal’s biggest European night if they could complete a recovery, Wenger insisted: “When we win, not if.

“We have a big task but we want to win and I believe we can do it. The rest is down to the quality of the performance that I think the players will produce.”

Arsenal could again be without Edu, who has suffered a fresh injury blow in training, although Robert Pires could return on the left flank.

The main problem is in defence, with Sol Campbell and Pascal Cygan both ruled out, leaving 20-year-old Swiss defender Philippe Senderos to partner Toure in a match where a clean sheet is needed.

“It’s not over if we concede but ideally we want to find the perfect balance between attack and defence and protect a clean sheet,” admitted Wenger.

“We produced one at Sheffield United and also against Portsmouth. That should give us the confidence to do it again. In France, we say ’Never two without three’.

“If we do keep a clean sheet then, even if it takes 80 minutes for us to score the first goal, they will be under huge pressure.”

Wenger realises it will be up to Arsenal to dictate the pace of the game, although he relishes their position as underdogs.

“We’ve got nothing to lose. We’ve learned a lot over the last few years and this is a good chance for the squad to show what they can produce,” he argued.

“Why am I so confident? Because I know we can win by two goals at home. I know how much the players and I want to do it.

“The quality of the defenders is another reason. Senderos is growing with every game and is going to be a very good centre-back.”

The goalscoring onus will nevertheless, as ever, fall on Thierry Henry, who is the third highest scorer in the Champions League, with 39 goals – behind only Raul and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The Frenchman nevertheless came under fire for failing to score in last season’s quarter-final ties against Chelsea, as well as the first leg in Munich.

“It’s an injustice to suggest he disappears in big games and it’s just not true,” argued Wenger.

“He has an outstanding record. Thierry spoils you so many times that, if he doesn’t produce when you expect him to, you go overboard.

“He’s a victim of his own success but he shouldn’t put too much pressure on himself. He just has to play his normal game. The achievement is always down to the team and not only Thierry.”