Arsenal vs Monaco: Full transcript of Wenger's pre match conference ahead of Monaco clash

Arsene Wenger and Danny Welbeck attended the pre match conference ahead of the champions league clash against Monaco. Below is the full transcript of the press co
nference. Enjoy.

Good morning Arsene, how special is it going to be for you coming up against your former team for the first time since joining Arsenal?

Well, for me it’s of course interesting, I’m happy that Monaco is back at the top level, for the rest, I’m for 18 years manager of Arsenal football club and I’m focused on just to qualify for the quarter final against a good side.

What sort of game are you expecting tomorrow?

Well Monaco if you look at the numbers is a team who made 11 points in the group stage, scored 4 goals and conceded 1, so that means they defend very well and that’s what they will certainly try to do tomorrow, and very good on the break, we can transition, so that’s what we expect from them.

In terms of your team news, are there likely to be any changes to the squad from Saturday?

No, the only uncertainty I have at the moment is Wilshere, but everybody else is available.

 
And Jack Wilshere getting back in training but we understand he was getting rested…

He was rested.

Why did you rest Jack today?

Because he trained hard until now.

So there is no setback?

No, no.

So will he be involved tomorrow?

Tomorrow I don’t think so, no.

But for the weekend?

Certainly.

In terms of Monaco, what significance does that period of your career have in the context of what you've achieved in football?

Well, it’s basically the start of my career, and I didn't know how long I would be in the job and where I would be you know, and it’s my first chance to be in a big club, I was very young and you are always grateful for that.

What characteristics would sum up this Monaco team?

Look I would say it is the first time they have put a lot of investment into the team again, because they were in the second division and that means it is the first time they invested a lot of money again and came up and qualified for the champions league. Certainly now in the second phase of that process that means they respect more the financial fair play, and have a strategy that is more based on youth.

 
What would be the dangers in anyone thinking Arsenal have had an easier draw this year?

Look, we have for 17 consecutive years in the champions league, and that would mean we have not learned the lesson that easy is a word that you have to banned in the champions league, and it’s hard earned, every time we were in there it was hard earned wins, it is all always one goal difference. You go out for one goal, you stay in, and that means you have to work very hard.

Defensively, is that their strongest area?

It is, and I believe as well physically it’s a very strong team, that’s why they are defensively strong because it’s a disciplined team that works very hard for each other, and that makes them efficient.

Danny what does a champions league tie against Monaco mean to you and the rest of the players?

Yeah we know obviously going in tomorrow night is going to be a tough tie for us, and it’s a game that is going to be played over 2 legs and we are not just going to be focused on tomorrow and we want to be getting the right result and set us up nicely for the second tie.

Do you get the feeling that this is where the competition begins for real as a player?

Yeah, but I think it starts from game day 1, and every single game in champions league means a lot, and you need to try and get the best out of each match, and we obviously try and get the win on the day and obviously tomorrow starts the knock out round and going into the Monaco game, obviously we've prepared well, we've analyzed their team and we are just looking forward to it.

Arsene you come into this match on a run of really good form with just one defeat in the last 9, I just wonder what aspect of your recent performances has given you the most satisfaction?

Well, I take from our recent performances that we can be confident because we won our games, and I think we have the right commitment, we have the right spirit in the side to be confident, but of course you know it’s hard fought games in the champions league, and what we need I think is to be ready mentally to prepare ourselves to go as far as we can altogether on the concentration level.

I just wonder how much mentally you are affected by the last few years in the last 16 in the champions league, it hasn't been the best for you has it?

Look, first of all it’s difficult to get out of the group stage, what happened in the last 4 years, we have gone out in the last 4 years that’s true. 2 times against the winner of the league, and what we have learned as well, it was all on goal difference all because of one goal, that’s just what I told you before. That shows you that every single minute of this game will be absolutely massively important, because we have gone out yes, but just, and what we want, we want to stay in, even if it is just.

Do you feel this years’ draw gives you a feeling that you can go further?

Look, even in the last 4 years, we came always out frustrated because we conceded 3 times a goal at home in the first 30 minutes, and that goal knocked us out, so it was really tight and we have learned from that, and that’s what we can show tomorrow.

Danny, from a players perspective, is that something that you talk about among yourselves when you've had a disappointment to the club 4 years in a row?

It’s not something that comes into discussion, I think once we finish one game, we are just looking on to the next one and that’s the most important thing, and we can’t really be looking too much into the past about what we could have done, but it’s about making things right and learning from that experience and taking it into the next game. So I think coming into tomorrows’ match, everyone is confident that we are going to win the game.

Arsene, can I ask you for your reaction to FIFA recommending today the Qatar world cup be held in November and December?

I regret that it took them so much time to realize that it’s impossible to play in the summer, and I think it makes sense. If you want people to survive at the games, it’s the only way to do it, in a decent way, in a comfortable way for the supporters. I think about the players, you don’t worry, but for the supporters, it’s the only way, and it’s the right decision.

Do you think UEFA could have done more to fight for premier league clubs and having a different date?

At the moment, they have chosen Qatar for the world cup 2022, you knew that everybody would have to adapt to that decision, and that it’s really impossible to play in the summer. After that, of course everybody will have to re-organize their fixtures and their season, that will not be easy. I’m not a specialist of fixture organization, but I’m conscious that will be the middle of the season basically for the premier league

Can you tell us who would be in goal tomorrow?

I cannot tell you that today.

Is David Ospina fit?

He’s fit

Does it still not sit well with you about what happened about the match fixing scandal?

That had nothing to do with Monaco, and they penalized Monaco, and I think I got over that with the time, and I believe that football has moved forward and I have as well.

Danny how do you feel about the link up with working with Ozil, that’s quite an attacking line up you've got there with yourself, Olivier, Sanchez?

Yeah it’s working well, but obviously there’s a lot of attacking options which gives the manager a good headache to have and I think once everybody is on the pitch, they are going to give 100 percent, and they are going to give their best for the team, and that’s the most important. You know once you are on the pitch, you need to do your job properly, and whoever comes in will obviously do the same.

Arsene, Monaco caused some big upsets over the years. When you got to this stage, you were considered the underdogs, now it seems to the flip-side, you look favorites for the tie, how does that feel coming into this fixture?

Yes it means Monaco I heard yesterday they said we have the pressure and because we are favorites, for me I don’t know if we are favorites or not, for me it’s a fifty-fifty game, but even though it is a pressure on the game, but that’s what we want to do. The worst thing that happened in my career is to play games without any pressure, and I love personally, I love that, because there is a lot at stake, and that’s the kind of games you want to play when you are a manager and when you are a player.

Is this the one competition that when you look back you’d love to get your hands on that champions league trophy?

Yeah of course, we were so close, we played 1 final, 2 semi finals, 4 quarter finals, and that’s what we want to do, to go to the end and win it, but if you look around you, you know only one thing, let’s do it step by step, because if you look at the teams who are competing, you have always a reason to think “oh, it’s difficult” so let’s just try to do the next game, go into that with belief and humility, and try to give absolutely everything we can.

What’s your mindset approaching the Monaco game?

I've got a lot of respect for Monaco, because I know they played a important role in my career as a coach, I've got a lot of recognition, and a lot of gratitude towards Monaco, and I’m very happy that Monaco are back at the top level, because that really proves the club has survived, and it really shows they are doing well because you need a lot of energy to keep going, and we need to make sure this doesn't stop and I think it’s great that Monaco are back at the top level.

How do you explain your longevity at Arsenal?

I think it’s when you run a marathon, you run one mile at a time. You just take it one step at a time, and then suddenly you look back and you see you've run a great distance. I would only say there is one thing going for me, and that’s something that I've worked very hard for throughout my career.

The vice president has said the pressure is on Arsenal, and Arsenal are favorites. What do you think about that?

I've got no problem with that. I think that’s part of the mind games before the game, I won’t shake off this pressure; I think perhaps we just got a bit more experience in this competition. Monaco finished top of their group, we were second in ours, so I really do think its pretty balance, pretty even, and even if we are considered favorites, it’s not a problem for me because I think it’s important to play games like this, and try to give everything to go through.

You have come across Dimitar Berbatov in the premier league, what do you remember about him in your time as coach?

Is he on the decline, I’m not sure. I think he’s a terrific striker, he’s 34, he’s still playing at the top level and I don’t think there are a lot of players who are 34 and are still playing at this level. Why has he managed to stay at the top till that age is because he’s got great technique, and it’s ultimately technique which allows you when your fitness and you run a bit out of path, you can really fall back on your technique, and that’s why he’s been able to survive at this age. Of course he’s no longer as fit as he was 10 years ago, but he’s been able to make up for that through his footballing intelligence, his footballing brain and particularly with his anticipation in the penalty area.

Arsenal have gone out in the last 16 over the last few years against some top sides, but do you feel that this year you've got more of a chance of going through?

Yeah we went out 4 times over the last few years against 2 teams that went on to win the competition, but it was always one goal difference. It was always on away goal, so it always comes down to very fine margins and those teams were heavy favorites against us. What we've learnt from that it’s going to be difficult for us even if we are perhaps slightly considered favorites, it’s still going to come down to very fine margins tomorrow.