Wenger ready for crunch period

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is aware of how quickly his side‘s fortunes could change.

After a topsy-turvy season, the Gunners finally seem to be on track again, heading into tonight‘s Champions League last-16 clash with AC Milan having reclaimed their place in the Premier League‘s top four.

But, with so much still to play for and having been burned in the past, Wenger is aware of how cautious his side need to be.

“You could say that the crisis at the moment in England is a bit like fire. It moves very quickly from one club to another,” he said.

“It’s a fire with strong wind so you have to be a bit cautious because it can quickly come back. The wind can blow it quickly back.

“This is the important time for us. Before the week started, I said that this week would be vital for us. It’s down to us to do well and hopefully we will do it.”

Wenger has challenged his young Gunners to once again rise to the occasion in the San Siro.

Four seasons ago, Wenger led Arsenal to a famous 2-0 win on their last visit to the San Siro against the then European Cup holders.

While Arsenal may now be without goalscorers Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor, and with the likes of William Gallas, Alexandre Hleb and Mathieu Flamini all having also moved on, Wenger remains convinced the latest generation can step up to the challenge against the Serie A leaders.

“When we played here, Milan had won the European Cup the year before and we knocked them out,” Wenger recalled.

“We had an up and coming team that was full of confidence and a very young side as well.

“Since we have of course lost some players, but I feel we are again a strong team now.

“We are a team who is rebuilding confidence and I believe as well that this game will be important for that.”

The Rossoneri currently lead Juventus at the top of Serie A, with Massimiliano Allegri’s men looking to make up for last season’s defeat at the same stage of the competition to Tottenham by dumping the Gunners out of Europe.

Arsenal go into tonight’s clash on the back of successive Barclays Premier League wins which have propelled them back up into the top four.

Wenger insists the Gunners have what it takes to progress.

“If I would think we have no chance to win the game I would stay at home. I don’t like to waste my time,” he said.

“I believe what makes football interesting is that you can win everywhere.

“We have shown we can win everywhere and I have full confidence in this team that we can do it.”

“We will try to play our game. Milan are a good side. We think we are a good side.

“We will attack, they certainly will as well. So it should be a good game.”

Wenger accepts Arsenal are in a defining period of their campaign, with an FA Cup fifth-round tie at Sunderland following on Sunday.

He continued: “We are concentrated on every game we play. We do not choose the games.

“We are Arsenal Football Club and we just try to win the next game.

“Is it FA Cup, Champions League or Championship? I believe it is important we are strong everywhere.”

Tonight will be the last match of Thierry Henry’s loan spell, with the veteran former Gunners captain set to return to the New York Red Bulls ahead of the start of the 2012 Major League Soccer season.

Centre-back Thomas Vermaelen hailed the impact of the 34-year-old Frenchman, whose impact was not only felt on the pitch, having scored a stoppage-time winner at Sunderland last weekend.

“He is a leader and talks a lot in the dressing room,” the Belgian said.

“Because we have a lot of young players and he has that experience, he talks to them a lot.”