So here we go. First up we have Mesut Ozil:
Which player are you most looking forward to playing against in this year’s competition?
I’d like to play against Real Madrid, against my old friends. And then I’d get to see Ramos, Benzema and Ronaldo.
Who has been your toughest opponent, individual and team, in the Champions League?
It’s difficult to say because there are a lot of teams involved in the Champions League, teams who have very good players in their ranks. And so that’s why I think it is always difficult to play against any team that has qualified for the Champions League.
You’ve won the ultimate prize with your National team at the World Cup. What would it mean to win the Champions League with Arsenal?
Well winning the World Cup is obviously the pinnacle for us players because it’s the biggest event in football. Among clubs, the Champions League is similarly the greatest title available and at Arsenal our aim is to win this title and I want to win it as a player. That’s why we want to do everything in our power to fulfill this objective along with winning more domestic honours of course!
Next up they had a few words with our captain Mikel Arteta…
Who do you think will be the most influential players during Arsenal’s Champions League campaign?
It is very hard to find anyone other than Messi and Ronaldo. I think they will be the two outstanding players again. For Arsenal, I hope one of the strikers will be influential which means we score lots of goals and we’re going to have a good chance to go very far in the competition.
Which opponent’s fans have generated the most impressive Champion’s League atmosphere?
Dortmund is one of the best grounds to go to. It has one of the best atmospheres. Places like Turkey are very passionate. But if I had to pick one ground it would be Dortmund, it’s an incredible atmosphere and they make it very hard for you.
As a player who has made over 50 appearances in Europe, what advice would you offer the younger players at Arsenal?
Just recognise and realise the opportunity they have to play in such a big competition and play with freedom. When they play at this level it means they are good enough to be here so they shouldn’t be afraid of anything.
What sort of influence do you think you can have on Arsenal’s Champions League campaign next season?
I don’t like to speak about myself. We will try to do much better than last year but all together we’re going to do the job.
With the attacking options available to Arsene Wenger, do you feel Arsenal can become one of the best attacking sides in Europe?
Of course, if we have everyone ready and without injuries we can have a great attack. We have shown this before in the Premier League and in the Champions League.
Who has been your toughest opponent, individual and team, in the Champions League?
Bayern Munich, even though we have beaten them two times. They’re a great team, they play well together and they have experience of the Champions League.
So I am sure there will be a lot more promoting of the Champions League before next season begins. At least we don’t have the worry of the Qualifiers and we can just look forward to the draw for the Group Stages. Let’s hope we don’t get Bayern Munich and Real Madrid as our Group opponents!
Next season, BT Sport Europe is the new home of top European football, with all UEFA Champions League matches and all UEFA Europa League matches exclusively live on BT Sport. Visit btsport.com.
You can watch the new funny BTSport ad here on our GALLERY page…
Let’s pray we don’t met those European giants Monaco again, because I’d love to win it at some point.
theres no need for that
that loss wasnt our fault, our mascot had lost his shoe- hard to focus after that
Someone told me they over heard Per say the pitch was too grassy!
Whilst there is always room for optimism and belief, it will only take you so far in reality. We are more than capable on a good day to beat the likes of Juventus, Atletico, PSG etc. but to say we have the firepower and quality to match Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern over 180 mins is stretching it. At best only 1 or 2 of our players would get a sniff at being in their teams, which speaks volumes.
To win the champions league is an unrealistic target to aim for whilst you are still building yourself up as a club, look how long it took European powerhouses Real Madrid to reach a final again, it does not happen over a season or two. A more reasonable target is to say, we should be aiming for the quarters/semi’s. You have to bare in mind, that whilst we might make 1 star signing a season (i.e Ozil & Sanchez), these 3 powerhouses are replacing them with superstars to put into their already star studded squads. That’s not to say that it’s impossible to topple the very best of European football, because Celtic, Feynoord, Villa, Red Star Belgrade, and in more recent times Porto and Chelsea have all defied the odds – but what is seemingly clear is that it’s less and less likely in the modern era. Teams such as Juve, Dortmund, Atletico have all shown that there is a capacity to go on and reach the final, but ultimately on the biggest stage of them all (barring the WC final), quality shines brightest and the best team on paper has won.
When we can field a team of 11 players where it is genuinely difficult to pick 5 or 6 from Real/Bayern/Barcelona who could replace them, then, and only then should CL be a realistic target. We might have a sniff at it once the likes of Messi, Ronaldo and Robben hang up their boots. Just my humble opinion.
Wise words!
correct words as well. Glad not everyone is deluded. Unless we are going to defy the odds and win like Chelsea we are a long way from winning UCL. We choke every R16 tie so i dont see how we are close yet. A main ingredient to challenge for a European title is to have a top striker. When was the last time any UCL team got into the finals without a top striker? Tevez, Suarez/Messi, Benzema, Costa, Lewandowski, Mandzukic, Rooney, Drogba… I could keep going down the list and all of these names are better than any striker we have had at the club since RVP. Plain and simple, we need a better striker this summer for a start. Its a waste to have Sanchez, Ozil in the team and not a top striker to compliment them. Giroud is a good, solid prem player but he’s not going to win us EPL or Champions League.
Please no more of the OG can’t win you a championship. He more than most held up his position. Sanchez played well as well but it would seem with his dribbling skills he might assist more.
I love it if we are held without a goal in any game it is always our striker’s fault.
hahaha Monaco are European giants only for Arsenal not for clubs like Barca, Real Madrid, Bayern, Chelsea etc.
I don’t understand why arteta is even being considered for next season. He is history, never really liked him. He should be playing in the championship
Let’s pray we don’t meet those European giants Monaco again, because I’d love to win it at some point.
are u in a cave?
whats with the echo?
Someone told me they over heard Per say the pitch was too grassy!
wise words !….. L()L
are u in a cave?
whats with the echo?
are u in a cave?…….. What’s with the echo?
<<<>>> L()L
Wise words!
But Let’s pray we don’t met those European giants Monaco again, because I’d love to win it at some point.
Nuff.
Wenger should go for the right additions and we are good to go. Personally i Need martinez ,Kondogbia and cech
The X is for Wenger buys player we have not been rumoured to buy.
Martinez/Higuain/Benzema/Lacazette/X ____ Kondogbia/Schneiderlin/Vidal/Krychowski/X ______ Cech/Ospina,Szczez/X
I think it will go Wenger buys X for striker position, Wenger buys X for DM role and Wenger means it when he says we have three top goalkeepers. Ps i have a feeling about Imbula.
after all those years we need a good run on CL
consistency is what we lack not quality
i have a man crush on nemo
ozil appreciation meetings to be held at the finding nemo ride -disneyland.
I ain’t getting on no ride*
*F*** Alton Towers
Their English is excellent
Their all actually cockneys from Romford but Wenger thinks foreign players are more marketable so had them put on an accent
So here we go. First up we have Mesut Ozil:
Which player are you most looking forward to playing against in this year’s competition?
Ja gunners, I love to play against Per in training. He is so fricken slow I can go have lunch, take a schizer and a shower and still get to the ball before him. He is my friend jah but it is true that I have watched milk turn faster. Ja gunners!
They didn’t ask the question I would have (haven’t seen the entire thing…just read the post) which is “who would u like to avoid playing?”
monaco, bayern, barca, milan….:/
Haha haha ok got it….everyone hahahaha
Next it was Olivier Giroud’s turn to speak…..
What sort of influence do you think you can have on Arsenal’s Champions League campaign next season?
You know. Errrr I like to speak about myself. Did I tell you I have a sponsorship with Schwarzkopf? Look, I am better than Wellbeck..who isn’t? I can have a fantastic influence in the champignon league. Did you see me against Monaco? My hair was parfait, just parfait! I hope with the help of my sponsors and my team mates (Danny holds ze hairdryer for me) I can continue with dis form.