Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that he is desperate for his side to win their Champions League group and a win against FC Basel on Wednesday night would keep recent momentum going.
The Gunners beat Chelsea 3-0 on Saturday to make it four consecutive Premier League victories and they enter the clash with the Swiss side full of confidence and on form.
Arsenal started their Champions League campaign with a 1-1 draw away to French powerhouses Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month, with the English team expected to be in competition with Unai Emery’s side for top spot in the group.
Wenger has confessed that it is important for his team to top the pile, which would hopefully hand the North London outfit a favourable tie in the next round of the competition.
“It’s our target [to top the group] but the truth is on the pitch,” he told the club’s official website.
“We had a good game on Saturday but let’s show that we can go from good game to good game and put the effort in in every single game. That’s what it is about.
“In recent years we came always out of the group stage. Last year, let’s say it was difficult because we made it difficult for ourselves and we have learned as well that in the group stage it’s not only important to qualify but, if possibly, qualify as top of the group. It gives you many more chances after to go through.”
Arsenal have been eliminated from the Champions League by some of the biggest teams in Europe over recent years and will be keen to avoid the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich until the latter stages of the competition.
