Arsenal FC had a technical problem with their plane and were left waiting for a replacement before they could fly to Italy for Wednesday's UEFA Champions League last-16 meeting with AS Roma. The delay denied manager Arsène Wenger the opportunity of a pre-match news conference so instead he shared his thoughts on the second-leg tie at the Stadio Olimpico with uefa.com.Have the travel disruptions affected the players?
Arsène Wenger: We waited for two hours at our training ground, we were not at the airport. At the moment we are still trying to travel but up to now it's not been too disturbing.
What are your thoughts on the game at the Stadio Olimpico?
Wenger: You want to go to Rome and play your own game. What is very important for us is to focus on scoring and going forward because they are a team who are very good going forward. If we allow them to spend 90 per cent of their time doing what they like to do, we expose ourselves. So let's go there and focus to dictate our game. I think its part of a personality of a team and let's show that.
You had a run of games without scoring but confidence seems to have been restored by recent results.
Wenger: The confidence is much better than three games ago. At the moment we are scoring goals again and it's a good way to be going into such a big game like tomorrow's.
You've spent a number of weeks trying to halt a run of 0-0 draws and one of those would do nicely now.
Wenger: Yes, but I don't think that's the way to behave going into a game like this as it's too dangerous. The positive thing about our home result is that we didn't concede a goal, and we didn't score enough to think we just have to defend.
Roma were quite cautious in London. How do you expect them to approach the second leg?
Wenger: They will go for it because they know they have to score at least two goals and put us under pressure. It's down to us to be well-organised and to come out and play our game.
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Daniele De Rossi is suspended. How much will they miss him?
Wenger: They'll miss him because he's an intelligent player tactically, very sound with a good eye for a long ball. I believe, defensively in the box, he's a very useful player for them.
Do you feel as though you should have scored more goals in the first leg?
Wenger: We could have but that's how it goes. We can score and be dangerous and that's what we want to do. They will certainly play differently but I expect us to believe that Roma will be at their best and that's a challenge for us to be at our best.
You travelled to Italy at this stage last season and beat AC Milan. What can you take from that victory?
Wenger: As you know, we can win anywhere. I believe it's always down to the quality of your performance. We have to go there trying to win the game and to have a positive attitude.
Emmanuel Adebayor and Cesc Fàbregas both scored that night. How much will you miss them?
Wenger: They are good players but we should focus on the players who are available. Adebayor and Fàbregas are good players but I believe the most important part of any club is the players so that's why we have a big squad.
Eduardo da Silva's return must have been a massive boost for everyone.
Wenger: It's fantastic the way Eduardo has played. We were very concerned when we saw his injury and when you see what he is doing now, it's nearly a miracle.
Are Eduardo and Theo Walcott ready to play in such a big game?
Wenger: They are in the squad and we will see tomorrow.
What are your memories of Thierry Henry's hat-trick at Roma in 2002?
Wenger: They had [Fabio] Capello as manager at the time and had great players – [Francesco] Totti, Cafu, [Antonio] Cassano; unbelievable names. So to go there and score three goals was absolutely an amazing night for us.
When Arsenal reached the UEFA Champions League final in 2006 your defence was fantastic. Are we seeing the same again now?
Wenger: We are quite solid defensively but I believe it's down to achieving a good balance between attack and defence. We always have an offensive attitude and sometimes that's the best way so you don't come under pressure defensively.
Do you think that people have been too quick to write Arsenal off this season?
Wenger: I cannot deny that, but it's down to us. You judge a season at the end of the season and it's down to us in the coming months to show that we have the necessary quality and that people were too quick to write us off.
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