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| Wenger: Roma are like Barcelona |
Friday 19 December, 2008 |
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Arsene Wenger fears Arsenal will have a tough time against Roma. “They play a lot like Barcelona, so it's a very even tie.”
The Giallorossi struggled in the early European games - and in Serie A - but have rallied since crushing Chelsea 3-1 and topped their group.
“Roma are a technical side,” Wenger told UEFA. “They have players like [Daniele] De Rossi, [Alberto] Aquilani, [Simone] Perrotta, [Rodrigo] Taddei, [Julio] Baptista who played here.
“They're a team where you want to defend very well. They play a lot like Barcelona, so it's a very even tie."
Arsenal have a strong record against Italian sides, losing only five of their total 23 meetings with Serie A participants.
Roma have the benefit of playing the second leg at the Stadio Olimpico on March 11, after they travel to the Emirates on February 24.
But Luciano Spalletti's side have to battle their own taboo, having gone out to an English club for the last three years on the trot.
"Of course we have a great chance of winning it, like everybody, but now it becomes a different competition,” noted the Arsenal boss.
“It was a championship, now it's a cup. That means form on the day makes a big difference. Before if you had one bad day you could make it up but now that's all changed.
“If you have five bad minutes out of 180, you will be out."
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