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Rediff.com  » Sports » Wenger upbeat despite Arsenal draw

Wenger upbeat despite Arsenal draw

February 21, 2008 11:47 IST
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he was taking plenty of positives from his team's 0-0 draw with European champions AC Milan at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, but conceded the Italians were the favourites to go through to the quarter-finals.

- Images from Wednesday's matches

"We played the game we wanted to play -- a high tempo game for 90 minutes and I take a lot of positives from that," Wenger told a news conference.

"They were under pressure for most of the game and the whole of the second half, and we didn't concede a goal.

"Overall we played a fantastic game, it was just a shame we didn't get a goal because on a night when everything goes for you in a game like that you can get two or three.

"To draw 0-0 at home is not a bad result overall, not to concede a goal at home is not bad and although I concede Milan start the favourites we can deal with that."

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti dismissed the idea that his side were now favourites to advance to the last eight.

"Our qualification is still in doubt," he said, "we are not sure of going through yet. Arsenal showed great quality tonight and we must improve our condition in the next two weeks because I am sure Arsenal can play just as well again in Milan."

No English team has beaten AC Milan in the Champions League at the San Siro, but Arsenal have beaten Inter Milan in the stadium which they both share.

"We can do the same again," Wenger said.

His only criticism of his side was that they tried too hard in the final third of the field.

"We didn't take the chances we created because we were a bit too forceful with our finishing and Milan defended with a lot of experience and they adapted to the situation of being under pressure very well.

"We had plenty of chances, not just Emmanuel Adebayor's header at the end, but overall we were a bit nervous and when we had shots we didn't test the goalkeeper enough."

Apart from failing to win, the other negative from the match was a calf injury to defender Kolo Toure, who, Wenger said, is likely to be out for the next three or four weeks.

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Source: REUTERS
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