SOCCER-CHAMPIONS/DINAMO-ARSENAL Arsenal and Dinamo Zagreb prepare for Champions League opener
Record ID:
141052
SOCCER-CHAMPIONS/DINAMO-ARSENAL Arsenal and Dinamo Zagreb prepare for Champions League opener
- Title: SOCCER-CHAMPIONS/DINAMO-ARSENAL Arsenal and Dinamo Zagreb prepare for Champions League opener
- Date: 15th September 2015
- Summary: ZAGREB, CROATIA (SEPTEMBER 15, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EMPTY STANDS AT DINAMO ZAGREB'S MAKSIMIR STADIUM ZAGREB STAFF WALKING THROUGH STADIUM ARSENAL COACH, ARSENE WENGER, AND ARSENAL CLUB CAPTAIN, MIKEL ARTETA, ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL COACH, ARSENE WENGER, SAYING: "Biggest part of the squad, of course, is here. Jack Wilshere, we have bad news about him, because as you know he will need surgery and will be out for about three months. We got that news yesterday, yesterday afternoon. And behind stayed (Hector) Bellerin and (Aaron) Ramsey. Everybody else travelled (to Zagreb)." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL CAPTAIN, MIKEL ARTETA, SAYING: "I think Jack (Wilshere) unfortunately had a lot of setbacks and a lot of difficult moments throughout his career but, as well as the boss (Arsene Wenger) said, he showed a lot of character and a lot of enthusiasm to get back, you know. And for him, I'm sure, again, is a very disappointing time but he needs to use his time to prove himself, that he can get back." PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING PICTURE AT NEWS CONFERENCE ARTETA AND WENGER IN NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL COACH, ARSENE WENGER, SAYING: "I am long enough in the job to know you have to be realistic and know to put hard work in and, as Mikel (Arteta) said, this is a championship, after, the cup competition starts - if you get out of the championship. So let's focus on that first. We are ambitious but we are not dreamers." PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING PICTURES WENGER AND ARTETA LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE DINAMO PLAYERS TRAINING ON PITCH DINAMO COACH, ZORAN MAMIC TALKING WITH ASSISTANTS ON PITCH WATCHING TRAINING GROUP OF DINAMO PLAYERS DOING EXERCISES ON PITCH GOALKEEPERS PRACTISING DINAMO GOALKEEPER, EDUARDO, PRACTISING PLAYERS STRETCHING ON SIDELINE DINAMO PLAYERS PASSING BALL VARIOUS OF DINAMO COACH, ZORAN MAMIC, ARRIVING TO NEWS CONFERENCE REPORTER LOOKING AT HIS MOBILE PHONE (SOUNDBITE) (Croatian) DINAMO ZAGREB COACH, ZORAN MAMIC, SAYING: "Of course we are aware of the reality and Arsenal's quality and power, but on the other hand, we believe we can - with a fanatical spirit, with lots of energy and lots of motivation, some intelligence and tactical discipline - that we can create something." REPORTER FLIPPING THROUGH PRESS KIT (SOUNDBITE) (Croatian) DINAMO ZAGREB CAPTAIN, DOMAGOJ ANTOLIC, SAYING: "We'll see whether Arsenal will make us fall back and defend, we'll see, but we will do our best not to let that happen." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 30th September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Croatia
- Country: Croatia
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAEXED4YW65Q8PN8NSGWMVNOUDN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed midfielder Jack Wilshere would be out for three months with a leg injury, as his side prepared to face Dinamo Zagreb in their opening Champions League Group F on Tuesday (September 15).
The Croatian champions will host Arsenal in the two teams' first encounter since 2006, when Arsenal eased past Dinamo in the qualifying stages of the same competition.
Wenger, said that the entire squad arrived in Zagreb and was fit for the game, except for Jack Wilshere, Hector Bellerin and Aaron Ramsey.
The 23-year-old England international had suffered an injury in pre-season training which will require surgery, leaving him sidelined for three months.
"Biggest part of the squad, of course, is here. Jack Wilshere, we have bad news about him, because as you know he will need surgery and will be out for about three months. We got that news yesterday, yesterday afternoon. And behind stayed (Hector) Bellerin and (Aaron) Ramsey. Everybody else travelled (to Zagreb)."
He will miss England's final European Championship matches next month.
Wilshere, 23, who missed the whole of the 2011-12 season through injury, managed only 14 league games last season.
It is a further blow for Arsenal, whose England striker Danny Welbeck is out for some time following knee surgery.
Arsenal's captain, Mikel Arteta, said Wilshere had the strength of character to recover from his latest injury.
"I think Jack unfortunately had a lot of setbacks and a lot of difficult moments throughout his career but, as well as the boss (Arsene Wenger) said, he showed a lot of character and a lot of enthusiasm to get back, you know. And for him, I'm sure, again, is a very disappointing time but he needs to use his time to prove himself, that he can get back."
Reporters asked Wenger whether there was still drive in him and the club to win the Champions League.
The closest the club came to winning the most prestigious trophy in European club football was in 2006, when they lost the final to Barcelona.
Wenger compared the group stages to a championship and the later knockout phase of the competition to a cup, saying the team needs to do well in both formats to reach the final.
"I am long enough in the job to know you have to be realistic and know to put hard work in and, as Mikel (Arteta) said, this is a championship, after, the cup competition starts - if you get out of the championship. So let's focus on that first. We are ambitious but we are not dreamers."
Although a dominant force in domestic football, Dinamo always struggled in the Champions League, never progressing to knockout stages in their four participations so far and ending their last campaign in the 2012-13 season with only 1 point in six games.
"Of course we are aware of the reality and Arsenal's quality and power, but on the other hand, we believe we can - with a fanatical spirit, with lots of energy and lots of motivation, some intelligence and tactical discipline - that we can create something," said Dinamo coach, Zoran mamic, about Wednesday's opposition.
Mamic said that although Arsenal were favourites, Dinamo intended not to change anything in their usual, attacking, style of play they use in the Croatian league.
"We'll see whether Arsenal will make us fall back (and defend), we'll see, but we will do our best not to let that happen," said Dinamo captain, Domagoj Antolic.
Arsenal will have to be at their best in Zagreb to launch their new European campaign successfully, only days before a Saturday Premier League fixture against title contenders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The other Group F fixture on Wednesday will see Bayern travel to Greece to play Olympiakos. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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