Reds loss affected Senderos

Philippe Senderos was allowed time off in order to recover from the mental blow of Arsenal's UEFA Champions League exit, according to the defender's father.

The Gunners departed the Champions League at the quarter-final stage after they suffered a 5-3 aggregate defeat to Liverpool.

Senderos was criticised, by some, after he failed to mark Sami Hyypia and was easily turned by Fernando Torres during Liverpool's 4-2 triumph in the second leg at Anfield.

And Senderos' father, Julien, has confirmed that his son needed time to recuperate following Arsenal's European exit.

"Philippe has been on the phone to us every day for the last few days," he said in the Daily Mail.

"He was not feeling too good after Arsenal went out of the Champions League.

"[Manager] Arsene Wenger gave him Sunday and Monday off so he could clear his mind and he has done that.

"But it's not the case that he is suffering from depression."

Arsenal's last throw of the dice at Old Trafford

As if Arsenal have not suffered enough from the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune in recent weeks, they are now being speared by familiar suggestions that they are paying the price for their obsession with the beautiful game, as though dazzling football and success are somehow impossible bedfellows. If that were the case, the Real Madrid side of the Sixties and the 1970 Brazilian World Cup team would never have won anything.

Robin van Persie, whose long absence is a more viable reason for Arsenal's failure, if we can call it that before today's final throw of the Premier League dice against Manchester United at Old Trafford, insists that the team will never abandon what he considers their duty to entertain. And to those who might sneer at the end of the season that Arsenal played great football and won nothing, the Dutch striker says: "A lot of teams who did not play much good football will also end up with nothing.

"For me, the basic of football is to give enjoyment to people buying a ticket. That's where it starts. We are like 11 actors on a stage, we have to give enjoyment. This is the way we think football has to be played and we really believe that we can win things, big things, with this style of football. We have to stick with our own ideas and our own way of playing football, but sadly it's just not happening at the moment."

It was happening at Anfield when Theo Walcott's remarkable run set up Emmanuel Adebayor to make it 2-2, a scoreline that would have taken Arsenal through. But Van Persie could be talking about the Gunners' twin ambitions to win the Premier League and the Champions League this season when he says: "We had it in our hands and it just disappeared. The whole situation has changed because everyone expected to go through. Now we can only hope in the last five league games and that's that.

"Of course it's not easy to accept because we played tremendous football this season. Everyone was like, 'Ahhh, Arsenal are really playing well' - and we did and it's really hard to accept that it's out of our hands. But it's not finished yet. When you want to win things, there are three or four big periods in a season and this is the final one. The momentum is not really with us but it can change if we get three points at Old Trafford. If not, it is finished."

The other, more justifiable, criticism of Arsenal is that manager Arsene Wenger has failed to build a squad to match those of Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea, one big enough to absorb the injuries which have put an unbearable burden on those forced to play in every game, particularly Cesc Fabregas, who rarely gets the rest he undoubtedly needs.

Van Persie says: "I don't think size is a problem because if you can play this kind of football for so much of the season, it is not about size, it's just our luck. It has been frustrating for me not to play more because I started the season with these fantastic ambitions and I have played only 20 games.

"We have missed Tomas [Rosicky] because he is a fantastic player and of course, Eduardo. What happened to him was hard to take because it was so useless, so stupid and of course it affected all the squad."

After the lacerating nature of Arsenal's exit on Tuesday, a game at Old Trafford five days later seems like cruel and unusual punishment. But for footballers, like actors, the show never stops and Van Persie describes today's encounter, coming so soon after Anfield, as "like a bonus or something".

Masch: Flamini exit was turning point

Mathieu Flamini’s exit during the Champions League clash between Liverpool and Arsenal was the turning point of the game, according to Javier Mascherano.

"When Flamini got injured, maybe the game changed a bit because he was playing really well," the Argentinian told the club’s official website. "But we knew Arsenal are a good team and very dangerous.

"You could see from their second goal how dangerous they are on the counter-attack. But luckily for us we managed to go down the other end and get a goal with our next attack.

"We are very happy getting to the semi-final, and we need to enjoy this moment. We know reaching the last four in the Champions League is a difficult thing to do, so we are happy. We've had two very difficult matches against Arsenal.

"In the first 20 minutes we didn't play well, we played badly, but the game changed on Sami Hyypia's goal, it was good for us.

"I don't know if it was our best match for us in this season's Champions League, but we did well after the first half hour."

Winterburn: Gunners need to win next trophy

Watching them crash out of the UEFA Champions League against Liverpool on Tuesday night, the combative defender asserts that the method of his former club's exit was particularly cruel.

'I think it's going to be very difficult for the fans to get over because of the penalty decision,' he says. 'If you look at the one that wasn't given at the Emirates, and the one last night - it's a soft penalty. I think if Arsenal had got their penalty in the first leg, then it wouldn't be an issue.

'As a neutral though, the game was a real spectacle, a great advert for the Premier League. It had everything. Both legs were highly competitive with great skill and entertainment and it was a quality game.'

'If you're an Arsenal supporter you'll be disappointed and worried that it looks like another season without a trophy,' he says.

'Defensively frailty cost them in both legs. Lack of concentration was key and, to concede a goal a minute after scoring the equaliser, it's just not possible to recover from that at this level.

'Everyone always talks about the beautiful football that the team play, but you are always judged on what you win. This team needs to win a trophy and they might have to change the squad around in the summer to do so. They've picked up a number of important injuries this season and they just haven't got as big a squad as Manchester United or Chelsea in terms of international players.

'Defensively they haven't looked as solid as they did at the start of the season and there are one or two calls to bring in more experienced internationals - although that's not really Arsene's philosophy. He hasn't really done it throughout his career so it may be that he continues to try and blood young players instead.'

Part of a famous English back five which included David Seaman, Tony Adams, Martin Keown and Lee Dixon, Winterburn admits that things have changed at the club since Wenger's arrival, but that the boss should be trusted in the transfer window.

'You have to try and respect what Arsene is doing at the club,' he asserts. 'He gets infuriated with the price tags of young English players and I remember him telling me you could go and spend £4-5million on an international foreign player with maybe 20-30 caps or £7million on an English Championship player who has never played in the top flight.

'Those figures just don't add up for him. He'd love a Gerrard or a Rooney, but I don't think he'll change his views on the valuation of English players. One thing English youngsters have to work on is their technical skills, as there is no doubt that youngsters abroad are much further ahead in their technical abilities.'

'It's been a couple of years since the last trophy and next season they really have to push on. When you're not winning anything, the club and the supporters get worried and people always want success at a club like Arsenal. The manager has done a fantastic job with the type of football the team plays, but the problem is that the team have to win their next trophy and do it as quickly as possible.'

Potless Arsenal are the moral victors this season

By Chester Carrick

How many other fans are feeling disappointed about a fantastic team having nothing to show for all that wonderful football?


Surely I wasn’t the only neutral who felt gutted when the final whistle blew on Tuesday night. True, there can only be one winner and Liverpool were far from undeserving victors, playing some high-octane football and pinning the Gunners back at various stages in the game. Like Gael Clichy, I don’t even have a gripe with the controversial penalty awarded after Kolo Toure’s clumsy challenge on Ryan Babel.


you have to question why Ryan Babel was snaking into the Arsenal penalty area in the first place. Had the young Gunners lost their heads after Theo Walcott’s wonder run and Emmanuel Adebayor’s slotted finish put them level on the night and ahead on away goals? It’s unthinkable that the opposite would have happened at the Emirates Stadium, despite Arsenal’s penchant for late goals.


The season started brightly enough for Arsene Wenger’s team, blazing a trail in the Premier League and generally acknowledged to be playing the best football in Europe. However, due to shallow depth of quality in their squad compared to their main rivals, there was always the possibility that they might run out of steam. With so many exceptionally talented but unproven youngsters comprising the starting XI, it’s little wonder that Wenger has described some of their performances as naïve this season.


You could say there were worrying signs for Arsenal fans back in October when they played Liverpool for the first time this season. Benitez’s men were far from their best, especially with a half-fit Torres only making it through the first half. In contrast, the Gunners played a blinder, with >Cesc Fabregas and Alexander Hleb pulling the strings in midfield – the duo eventually combining to produce Arsenal’s late equaliser. But that was the problem; despite the visitors passing the ball so well and carving out numerous chances, they very nearly walked away with nothing to show for their efforts.


Yet their lack of killer instinct and the soft defensive underbelly they’ve displayed time and again this season have contributed to their appeal. I made the point after Arsenal beat Milan at the San Siro that the game very nearly went into extra-time, despite the North London side dominating proceedings throughout. In addition to the penalty conceded on Tuesday night, there was an equally valuable one given away at St Andrews on February 23, which marked the start of a five-match winless (not to mention Eduardo-less) run. As we all know, this has essentially signalled the end of their title bid for another season – perhaps they’ve done well still to be alive in April.


Nevertheless, it’s a shame for the Gunners to have produced a string of memorable performances (3-0 Seville, 1-1 Liverpool, 1-3 Reading, 1-4 Everton, 0-2 Milan to name but a few) without anything to show for it this season. Wenger deserves immense credit for putting his faith (some might say a little too much) into a crop of talented youngsters who will surely be mentally stronger after a season of joy and heartache, the latter of which they’re suffering from now. Three cheers for Arsenal’s glorious failures this season!

Clichy frustrated by sloppy defending

Arsenal defender Gael Clichy has hit out his team-mates for failing to see off Liverpool in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final.

The Gunners looked to be on the verge of the semi-finals on away goals courtesy of Emmanuel Adebayor's equaliser to make it 2-2 six minutes from time.

Clichy was left fuming by the decisive penalty after Kolo Toure was adjudged to have upended Babel in the box.

The French defender was furious his side could not hold on to their overall lead after Adebayor had given them the advantage.

"We did well to score the first goal and to come back and get the game to 2-2. And at that point we were through. But what happened after that was really disappointing," Clichy told the London Evening Standard.

"To concede a goal like this, whether it is a penalty or not a penalty, may be disappointing but it is not unlucky.

"It is unreal to have had a chance like this, to score the equaliser and get to 2-2 and then to concede a goal only a few seconds after kick off.

"I can't find the words for it. It is just ridiculous."

Adebayor - We can win title

Emmanuel Adebayor admits that he has already turned his focus to Sunday's Premier League showdown with Manchester United.

The Arsenal striker was part of the Gunners side which crashed out of the UEFA Champions League against Liverpool on Tuesday night.

European glory had appeared to represent Arsenal's best opportunity of picking up some silverware this season, but victory at Old Trafford this weekend could keep their push for domestic success on track.

"Of course we can still win the league," the Togo international said on Uefa's official website.

"Sunday is our season now, it determines whether we still have something to play for or whether we can go on holiday.

"If we win in Manchester we can still hope to win the league so we have to get our focus back, stay strong and make sure we do that.

"Right now we're all disappointed but we will be back in the Champions League next season and the boss knows the answers. He knows what to do and what's needed to win it."

Adebayor was understandably downbeat after slipping out of the competition in such a frustrating manner, but is determined to help the club bounce back as soon as possible.

"Of course we're all disappointed but it's happened now and we have to respond," he said.

"We were in a position to get through twice and that's the worst thing. We had chances to win and we didn't take them.

"Perhaps we weren't sure how to take our opportunities but that's football and we have to accept it."

Much of the post-match reaction to the quarter-final contest on Merseyside has focused around the contentious penalty awarded to Liverpool in the dying minutes of the game following Kolo Toure's challenge on Ryan Babel.

Adebayor admits that the decision left him baffled, and is adamant that the Gunners were dealt a raw deal by the match officials throughout their recent trilogy of matches against the Reds.

"There's a lot of things I don't understand in football and I couldn't say if it was a penalty or not tonight," he said.

"We had the chance of a penalty in both the last two games against Liverpool and the referee didn't see it like that, but tonight he gave them a penalty.

"That happens in football and we have to be big enough to take it."

Toure - Penalty decision is 'hard to accept'

Kolo Toure described Liverpool's late penalty at Anfield on Tuesday night as "really hard to accept".

Arsenal had just scored to put themselves in line to qualify for the Champions League Semi-Final when, in the 85th minute, substitute Ryan Babel burst into the area in front of the Kop with Toure and Cesc Fabregas in pursuit.

The Dutchman tumbled and referee Peter Frojdfeldt pointed to the spot. It was a debatable decision and one which Toure reflected on when he spoke afterwards.

"It was a really tight game and we were playing well," he said. "We came back into it and then Liverpool got a penalty which was really hard to accept.

"The referee gave the foul against me, but I just moved away from him and I think Cesc caught his hand maybe, which was outside the area anyway. But that is the game and the referee has given the penalty. What can you do?

"We are all really disappointed. We just need to think about the Premier League now and see how far we can go in that."

Gilberto - It will be too painful to watch the Semi-Finals now

Gilberto expects he will not watch the Champions League Semi-Finals because it will be "too painful".

The Brazilian came on just before half-time in the Quarter-Final second leg at Anfield on Tuesday night and thought his side had sealed a famous victory in the tie when Emmanuel Adebayor struck with six minutes to go. However Steven Gerrard's contentious penalty put Liverpool back in front almost immediately and an injury-time effort from Ryan Babel ensured Rafa Benitez' side would progress.

As ever, the experienced 31-year-old took the frustration on the chin.

"Everyone is very disappointed with the result especially because of the way we played," he said. "We were unlucky. The big decisions went against us this time.

"We did very well to equalise, it is very hard especially when you play away from home and are behind. To score is not that easy but maybe we missed our concentration in the final minutes.

"I don't know if I will be watching the Semi-Final games now. It will be very painful.

"Sometimes you learn more in defeat than you do when you win but, of course, no one at this Club enjoys it when you lose the game, especially an opportunity to get into a Champions League Semi-Final. We will learn from the result but I would prefer to learn when we achieve good things."

There is still an outside chance of that in the Premier League but, even Arsène Wenger accepts his third-place side must win at leaders Manchester United on Sunday for that to happen.

"It is a very big game," said Gilberto. "Anything can happen, you never know. The important thing is to start to think about the next game now and try to forget what happened in this game with Liverpool.

"It is important to win the next five games," he concluded. "If we do that, then why not?"

Liverpool V Arsenal (UCL 2nd Leg) 8th April

Liverpool 4-2 Arsenal

Arsenal

Diaby 13' view / download

Adebayor 84' View / Downlaod

Liverpool

Hyypia 30' view/download

Torres 69' View / Downlaod

Gerrad 86' Penalty View / Downlaod

Babel 92' View / Downlaod

Full Match

First half or here (Torrents)

Second half (Torrents)

Highlights

Long highlights of both the legs here

Post Match here

ITV Highlights

Part1
Part2

Extras

Amazing play for arsenal but the goal keeper save it

Diaby misses a great chance

Amazing chance missed by adebayor


First 30 minutes we bossed the play. Arsenal went ahead through a much deserved goal from diaby. It was a splendid shot from the a player who is not a regular goal scorer. Then Alminia gave away a throw-in near our penalty box. From the resulting corner, we conceeded the goal.It all came back to square one.Flamini's injury is a real concern now.

In the second half, nothing interesting to write home about,at least till Liverpool scored.Reina pumped the ball upfield, crouch got a touch, and then boom torres scores out of the blue. It was a nice finish.

We dint give up, held our heads high and pushed forward in search of the all important 2nd away goal. We did get our goal through an amazing run by Theo.
Theo went past 4 Liverpool players, beating them for pace and then squared a ball to adebayor to score, which he did.

Arsenal fans emotions couldn't be controlled at that moment of time. It was unbelievable. We had one step in the semis.

Then disaster struck. Liverpool were given a dubious penalty for, which looked like a coming together from toure on babel.Surely it wasn't a penalty by any stretch of imagination. Arsenal fans who were over the moon,after adebayor scored the goal, were brought down to earth from a very controversial penalty decision from the ref. Gerrard stepped in, and converted the penalty.

In the dying minutes, we still pushed for equiliser and pushed all over defenders forward.The ball borke and fell to babel.He started a counter attack on his own, liverpool scored and made the tie safe. It was rubbing salt on the wound.

I think Arsenal played really well to take the lead, then come back from 2-1 down to make it 2-2.

We lost the tie because of the elements, which were not in our hands, went against us and favored Liverpool. This is a devastating blow to the young Arsenal players, after fighting so hard to reach the quarter finals, beating the mighty Milan on the way,then getting undone by the referee is too hard to take.

But we need to pick ourselves up quickly as we have a very important match next weekend, against Man U, which can put our title aspirations back on track.

Let us be proud for the mental character shown by the very young Arsenal team tonight, which is a very good sign for the future.

Match report here

Player ratings here

Wengers post match comments here

Cesc Fabregas: England wants Liverpool to win

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has claimed that the "whole of England" wants Liverpool to win tonight's Champions League quarter-final at Anfield

"I detect something very significant and curious going on at the moment because every time Arsenal lose there are many, many people who are delighted," he said.

"I must say it's really strange. It's as if they specifically don't want good football to triumph. But we won't change. In the first leg it never even occurred to any of us to revert to the long ball game in an attempt to win.

"Football has become ever more about power and physicality but I think our philosophy is the one which makes our sport a real spectacle."

But the 20-year-old, however, insisted he was not implying a criticism of the opposition at Anfield tonight. "I don't mean that I've got a lack of respect for Liverpool, however. They defend well and that's fundamental in the Champions League.

"They've put themselves in a good position to go through but if we can carry the form of the second half from last week into this match then we'll have chances to win."

Fan vs Fan: Liverpool - Arsenal

GOAL: Let us start with your thoughts about your team's performance during the first leg? What emotions did it evoke?

Alex Davenport (Liverpool): I personally get very nervous during these big games and find it hard to enjoy it as such. If someone had offered me a 1-1 draw before hand I would have taken it, as the away goal so often proves vital and European nights at Anfield always bring out the best in us.

I thought we matched Arsenal for most of the game but had to withstand the pressure in the second half. Kuyt ran himself ragged as usual and Stevie Gerrard produced a moment of pure quality to create the equaliser. At the end of the game I was in positive mood and pleased with the result.

Jamie Fletcher (Arsenal): My emotions ran the gamut from expectation to elation (when Adebayor scored) to deflation (three minutes later, when Liverpool equalised) to indignation (when we were denied a cast-iron penalty) to frustration (when Bendtner inadvertently blocked Fabregas's goal-bound if not exactly powerful effort) to resignation that it would end in a draw and finally a little trepidation about the prospects for the second-leg.

But overall I felt Arsenal were the better team and could not be too critical of our performance. The widespread belief that Liverpool have secured a crucial advantage seems to me questionable, and the assumption that they have one foot in the semi-final somewhat premature - though I'm happy enough for them to be considered favourites. Delighted, in fact.

Read the full article here

Reina: Let's avoid shoot-out drama

Jose Reina insists he is hoping he is not called upon to become Liverpool’s penalty hero in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter final clash with Arsenal.

Reina was hoisted on his team-mates' shoulders after Liverpool’s last all-English European showdown, having saved two of Chelsea’s three penalties to send The Reds to the final.

“The important thing in football is to make goals and to win,” said the Spain number two.

"Torres or Gerrard can be the heroes, but I do not want to arrive at a situation like before against West Ham or Chelsea last year.

“I’m not always going to stop three penalties. I do not to think about it ".

Liverpool v Arsenal: Who has the edge?

As both teams prepare for the Champions League quarter final showdown at Anfield, every Liverpool and Arsenal supporter will have their own version of what will happen.

European knockout ties at Anfield seem to invariably end up with Liverpool going through. However, after the magical scenes in the San Siro, Arsenal will be confident of causing a minor upset.

So instead of making a prediction (their last three encounters have ended 1-1), let us have a look at what we know and which stats both sets of supporters will be looking to for positive signs.

We’ll kick off with the hosts:

- In 30 games at Anfield in the Champions League, the visiting team have scored more than one goal only three times – the last team were Galatasaray back in September 2006

- 21 of Fernando Torres’ 28 goals this season have come at Anfield.

- Arsenal have failed to score in four of their last seven Champions League away games.

- Dirk Kuyt has scored three goals in his last four cup games for Liverpool (Champions League & FA Cup)

- The only team to score more than one goal in the first half this season against Liverpool are Havant & Waterlooville in the fourth round of the FA Cup back in January

- Peter Crouch has scored five goals in five league starts against The Gunners.

However, Arsenal’s stats indicate Liverpool will have reasons to be worried:

- Arsenal have never failed to score against Liverpool in their last eight encounters in all competitions

- In 52 games this season, Arsenal have only failed to score five times, including twice in the Champions League (at Slavia Prague and at Emirates v Milan)

- Arsenal have kept nine clean sheets in their last 13 away games in the Champions League

- The Gunners have scored six of their last seven goals from set-pieces while Liverpool have conceded seven of the last 10 goals from dead-ball situations

- Arsenal won at Anfield in both domestic cup competitions last season, scoring nine goals in the process.

The man in black is Peter Fröjdfeldt and Arsene Wenger will be pleased. The Swedish referee has overseen three Arsenal games in the Champions League in the last three seasons.

The verdict? Three wins, including the 2-0 defeat of Juventus at the quarter final stage back in the 2005/06 season when The Gunners made it to the final.

He also sent off three non-Arsenal players in the process – Juventus’ Jonathan Zebina and Mauro Camoranesi and Hamburg’s Sascha Kirchstein in Arsenal’s 2-1 win there last season.

Now let battle commence.

Liverpool 'on a roll' for Arsenal

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez believes the momentum is with his team as they go into their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Arsenal at Anfield tonight.

The two teams meet for the third time in seven days this evening, having shared 1-1 draws in European competition last week and in the Premier League on Saturday.

However, Liverpool tonight have the advantage courtesy of Dirk Kuyt's away goal at the Emirates last Wednesday and a clean sheet would be enough to see them advance into the semi-finals.

But with Arsenal having only failed to score in four of their last 26 away games this season, Benitez has said will not be aiming for a goalless draw.

Benitez said: "Arsenal know we are on a good run now, we are playing well. But clearly you can see the mood between the players, the mood and the atmosphere and the confidence. It's a good moment.

"But also I have told them be careful, Arsenal are a good team and usually score away goals so when people have been talking about us being favourites, I don't think that is the case.

"We need to win. I'm not thinking '0-0, fantastic'. At the end, I might say 'fantastic', but we need to score and win.

"The only advantage we have is that we are playing at Anfield with our supporters. We have confidence we can win. You could feel the atmosphere against Chelsea in the semi-final last season, and I expect that to be the same this time. Our fans can also hold the key.

"It is easy to say that you do not have any problems with big crowds in away games of this importance. But when you have to face our fans for 90 minutes, then it is not easy for the majority of players.

"Arsenal have been here before. But the difference is the Champions League, it's knock-out now and that is the difference."

It's up for grabs now!

Andy Gray'c Comments on tonights match.

Often when you know that you have to go for it, you can go into a game in a better frame of mind.

The Arsenal-Liverpool Champions League quarter-final first leg was a good advertisement for English football although it was quite different from a Premier League encounter: it was a proper game of football, but played in very much a European style.

Rafa Benitez was his usual cautious self, there was very little offensively from Liverpool.

After Dirk Kuyt had cancelled out Emmanuel Adebayor's opening goal it was a case of getting men behind the ball and the defence asked Arsenal if they were good enough to break them down, which they couldn't, but Liverpool rode their luck.

That has been a feature of Benitez in the Champions League, as luck has hauled them along the way and he has needed that luck.

Kuyt pulled down Alexander Hleb which is a penalty every day of the week and how many times would Nicklas Bendtner stop a team-mate's shot on the line? It was incredible!

They had two huge pieces of good fortune on the night and going into the second leg they have a slight advantage, with Kuyt's away goal.

But I don't think Liverpool will make the mistake of thinking the job is done as Arsenal will be motivated enough - and good enough - to score at Anfield as they know they have to.

Anfield '89

This match reminds me of the title decider at Anfield in 1989 when Liverpool knew they could afford to lose by one goal and still win the league, and George Graham's Arsenal knew they had to win by two clear goals to take the title.

I just wonder if Arsene will remind his players that Arsenal have been to Anfield in a game that they had to win and did so.

This will be tough to call as Liverpool hold the advantage, but Benitez will find it difficult because he is a naturally cautious manager.

And with an away goal, knowing that Arsenal have to score, he will set his side out similar to the way he did at the Emirates.

The problem is, he will have 40,000 Liverpool fans willing the team on and demanding a performance of tempo and positivity, plus he will be worried about getting picked off at the back.

So Rafa will have a tactical dilemma as this is far from over.

Arbeloa: Rafa's got Wenger's number

Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa is convinced The Reds will progress to the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday because Rafa Benitez is outwitting Arsene Wenger.

"Tactically we have been better in the two games and I don't feel anyone can underestimate us,” stated the versatile full back.

"We have the advantage of being at home and making it through to the semi-final stage.

"I believe the result in the league against Arsenal on Saturday is enormous for us because we have shown that we are very hard to beat.

"Liverpool always creates many problems for Arsenal and this will be an advantage for us. The game on Tuesday is the most important one of the season for us.”

Liverpool have played a cagey game in both encounters so far, but Arbeloa promised goals will be the priority at Anfield.

"Getting through to the semi-final of the Champions League is an enormous prize and we cannot fail.

"We dream of scoring a quick goal and being able to dominate the game. They will have to open up and we can kill off the game."

Wenger - We have prepared for penalties

Arsène Wenger has primed his side for penalties ahead of Tuesday night's Champions League Quarter-Final second leg at Anfield and says that, should the game go to spot-kicks, it will be a battle of nerves.

The last three games between Arsenal and Liverpool have finished 1-1. If this one has the same scoreline after normal time and extra time then the tie will have to be decided in a shoot-out. Wenger has had his players working on spot-kicks but he knows the nerves on the night are usually the determining factor.

“We're prepared for penalties," he said. "All the 36 players involved in the game can take one technically. But the pressure aspect is more important on the day of the game than the technical aspect.”

All or nothing for Benitez and Wenger

As Liverpool and Arsenal prepared for a night that will shape their seasons, Arsene Wenger insisted that his side were still fighting to win both the Premier League and the Champions League.

Some 48 hours after he virtually conceded the title, the Arsenal manager presented a bold statement of his belief in a team that is under extreme pressure. "I think we will finish as champions," he said before the second leg of tonight's Champions League quarter-final at Anfield.

"But it will be compulsory for us to win at Old Trafford and if I did not think we could win the Champions League, I would not be sat here at this press conference."

However, having gone to the San Siro and knocked out the European champions, AC Milan, in the previous round, Wenger believes Arsenal are capable of beating any team in the world.

''A similar spirit to the one we showed in Milan is needed and wanted," he said, adding that Cesc Fabregas, who has lost form since his heroic performance in Milan, "still had enough in the tank".

Wenger rejected a jibe from Rafa Benitez that his Arsenal side could no longer hide behind the argument that they were young and inexperienced.

The Liverpool manager pointed to half-a-dozen of Wenger's players being almost veterans by European standards.

"We are young, still very young," said Wenger.

"You cannot convince me otherwise. Adebayor is young, Fabregas is young. They'll be better in two or three more years because they'll be even more experienced. And they'll still be very young then."

Houllier tips Gunners to progress

Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has said that despite his longstanding affection for The Reds he believes Arsenal will make it through the sides’ Champions League quarter final tie.

“I will always be a Liverpool fan for the rest of my life,” said Houllier, who spent six years at the club and is now technical director for the French Football Federation. “There are still players there that I got started and connections to the team which we set up.

“But after the way Arsenal played in Milan, I think they are the favourites even if they are having a bit of trouble in the league.

“In Milan I saw a team which is focused, committed and above all else very talented.”

Houllier did not stop there as he went on to praise fellow compatriot and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who he says has ‘special’ qualities.

“There are three things which make Arsene special. The first is that he is a hard worker blessed with a rare expertise, not just on football in general, but also on world football,” Houllier said.

“In other words he is a hard worker, an expert and also takes a very active approach towards the psychology of his players.

“Every manager has his own philosophy. I know the philosophy of Arsene Wenger's game depends on speed, technique and movement.”