Wenger: Gunners must focus against Twente
Saturday, 02 Aug 2008 12:15
Wenger says Arsenal must not lose focus against Twente
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says concentration will be the key when his side face FC Twente in the qualifying stage of the Champions League.
The Gunners were drawn against the Dutch side who are now managed by former England boss Steve McClaren and Wenger is expecting a tough match.
Wenger says that although his team will be favourites to win the tie they must be careful not to take the match for granted.
He said: "It's a football country, the clubs are always well organised and we will be favourites. It will be important for us to be at the top of our concentration to go through.
"Steve McClaren will get his team well organised and make it difficult for us, but I still feel the biggest part will be how well we will play and how we will go into the game."
McClaren is relishing the opportunity to return to his home country with the chance to upset one of the biggest names in European football.
The former
Middlesbrough manager says his side have nothing to lose and should view the fixture as an exciting challenge.
McClaren said: "In one respect it is a tough draw for us, on the other it is now an opponent we know very well, not just myself, everyone in Holland knows the Premier League well so Arsenal will be no strangers to us.
"On one hand it is very, very tough for us but on the other it is very exciting."
FC Twente qualified for the Champions League by beating Ajax in the final of the Dutch play-off system, having finished fourth in the league last season.