UCL PREVIEW: ‘Easy’ is a word you have to ban in the Champions League, says Wenger

Arsenal host Monaco at the Emirates in the 1st leg of their UEFA Champions League (UCL) last 16 match.

After exits from the competition at this stage in their previous four seasons against the likes of Barcelona, AC Milan and Bayern Munich, the Gunners are favourites this time to book a quarter final ticket ahead of their French opponent.

But Arsene Wenger, who coached Monaco for seven years (1987–94) before leaving for Nagoya Grampus in Japan, says there’s no easy tie in the competition.

“After 17 years in this competition the one lesson I have learned is that ‘easy’ is a word you have to ban in the Champions League,” he said.

“Every time at this stage of the competition you go out or go through on one goal. In the past four years we have gone out in the last 16, twice to the eventual winners, and always on goal-difference or by one goal.

“In the last four years we have gone out because we have conceded a goal at home in the first 30 minutes which has eventually knocked us out. So we know that every single minute is absolutely important. Too many times lately we have just gone out in the last 16. This time I want to stay in, even if it is only just.

“Many times we have gone close in the Champions League. We have been to one final, two semi-finals and four quarter-finals. Now I want to go right to the end. But we can only do that step by step.”

Monaco reached the round of 16 as winners of Group C – although their 11-point total was actually two fewer than Arsenal managed in finishing Group D runners-up behind Borussia Dortmund.

In Wednesday’s other game, Bayer Leverkusen host Club Atletico Madrid seeking a change of fortune at this stage of the UCL.

Leverkusen, who qualified as Group D runners-up, have never won a last-16 tie and will have to work hard to change that statistic against an Atletico side who finished top of Group A ahead of Juventus.

Below are match backgrounds to Wednesday’s games.

ARSENAL V MONACO

• This is Arsenal’s 15th consecutive appearance in the last 16. However, Wenger’s men have lost at this stage in each of the last four seasons.
• Arsenal’s last victory in the round of 16 was against Porto (6-2 aggregate) in 2009/10, since when they have suffered elimination against Barcelona (2010/11), Milan (2011/12) and Bayern Munich (2012/13 and 2013/14).
• Including their play-off tie against Besiktas, Arsenal have earned three wins and one draw at home in this season’s competition.
• Arsenal’s home record against French teams is W5 D3 L2.
• Their most recent meetings with Ligue 1 opposition came against Olympique Marseille in last term’s group stage, when they won 2-1 (a) and 2-0 (h).
• Wenger has never lost a match back in France with Arsenal. His overall record against clubs from his home country with the Gunners is W10 D4 L2.
• Arsenal’s record in two-legged ties with French teams is W4 L0.
• Monaco are eyeing their first UCL quarter-final since 2003/04 – the season they went all the way to the final.
• Their most recent round of 16 appearance ended in a 3-0 aggregate defeat by PSV Eindhoven in 2004/05.
• Monaco took four points on their travels in the group stage, winning 1-0 at Bayer Leverkusen on match day five.
• Leonardo Jardim’s side had the best defence in the group stage, conceding just one goal in six games.
• Monaco have only lost once in five previous visits to England – a 2-0 reverse at Liverpool in the 2004/05 group stage. In their only past trip to London they drew 2-2 at Chelsea to book their place in the 2004 final.

LEVERKUSEN V ATLETICO

• Roger Schmidt’s hosts are hoping to put behind them a run of heavy defeats at this stage of the UCL. Although they reached the final in 2002, losing to Real Madrid, that was when the tournament featured a second group stage.
• Leverkusen have won three and lost one of four home fixtures in this term’s competition, the 4-0 play-off victory over FC Copenhagen included.
• Their home record against Spanish sides is W6 D3 L5. Leverkusen beat a Real Sociedad side including Antoine Griezmann 2-1 at home in last season’s group stage.
• Leverkusen have lost their last four two-legged ties against Spanish opposition. Their last victory came when they defeated Espanyol in the 1988 UEFA Cup final (3-3 agg, 3-2 pens).
• Atletico are looking to reach the quarter-finals of the European Cup for the seventh time.
• Last season’s runners-up have won five and lost just one of their nine UCL away games since September 2013.
• Diego Godin, Koke, Mario Suarez, Miranda and Tiago all played when Atletico visited Germany last for the 2-1 win at Hannover which secured a 4-2 aggregate victory in the quarter-finals of their triumphant 2011/12 UEFA Europa League campaign.
• Atletico’s overall away record against Bundesliga clubs is W5 D3 L7.
• The Spanish champions have won their last five two-legged ties against German sides. Their last aggregate defeat came against Dynamo Dresden in the 1979/80 UEFA Cup first round.
• Atletico lost the 1974 European Champion Clubs’ Cup final against Bayern Munich, going down 4-0 in a replay after a 1-1 draw.

TUESDAY’S RESULTS

Manchester City 1-2 Barcelona

Juventus 2-1 Dortmund