Mesut Özil has warned that Arsenal won’t be afraid when they face Barcelona
in the round of 16 in February.
The Gunners have been in impressive form in the Premier League of late and
dispatched of Manchester City with a 2-1 victory last night, but they have
failed to progress beyond the first knockout stage of the Champions League
since 2010.
Arsenal left it late to progress out of Group F and were pitted against
Barcelona, the newly crowned World Club Cup champions, in the draw for the
round of 16.
Barcelona boast the most feared attacking triumvirate in world football in
Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar, but Özil believes that Arsenal have a
chance of progressing to the quarter-finals.
Özil said:”Barcelona are the hardest team in the world to play against.
Barcelona are the best team at the moment in the world. We know that.
“But as a player I look forward to encounters like this. For me it is
important to have these big games, it’s nice to play against the best teams;
to compete with them is a big opportunity for us.
“We respect Barcelona but they will respect us too. We are not afraid of
Barcelona.
“We just need to play our game and we can beat them. There is no fear. In
football everything’s possible.
“It is a tough match but I don’t think our defenders were afraid after the
draw. It’s a big opportunity for them to prove themselves against the best
attack in the world, players like Suárez, Messi, Neymar.
“It will be an exciting game, with the possibility of lots of goals, but it’s
not like we are afraid.”
Özil set up both of Arsenal’s goals against City, with the German having now
registered 15 assists in the Premier League this season.
The 27-year-old has created a staggering 67 chances in the Premier League
this campaign, which is a higher amount than any other player in the division
has managed.
Arsenal’s next game sees them travel to face Southampton on Boxing Day, with
Arsène Wenger’s side seeking to keep the pressure on league leaders Leicester
City.
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