Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed he feels that Barcelona would prefer not to take on his Gunners squad in the final 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

Barca is considered by most as the favorite to notch another title this year.  Arsenal fell to Barcelona during the quarter-final stage of the 2009 tournament, where the Spaniard side advanced after a 6-3 aggregate “W.”

There is no doubt that knocking out Lionel Messi & co. is a tough task.  However, Wenger believes his North London boys are more than capable of upsetting the odds.

“My reaction is very simple – difficult but possible,” Wenger told the club’s official website.

“I didn’t want anybody really, in that all teams would have been difficult. You could have said that Schalke – a team with less history in the Champions League – would have been easier maybe. But the advantage is that we will be on our toes and we’ll be ready.

“Revenge is not on my mind. We want to qualify and we want to knock them out. So is it difficult? Yes. Is it possible? Yes.

“Barcelona are certainly the favourites [for the competition] and a famous team but, on their side, they did not want us either because they know they will get a game.

“I think we are better than last year and we have a good opportunity to show that. I won’t come out on [how we will make it a different game]. What is on my mind right now is Stoke tomorrow more than Barcelona.

“We are in the middle of December and we play at the end of February. So there is a long way to go.

“It is too early to speak about this game concretely. You can just speak about the draw. The whole context might be completely different in two months. We don’t know what we will do and how we will feel.

“But the best way of going into that game with confidence is down to what we do from today until then. If we do well in the league, the FA Cup and the Carling Cup that will give us the best chance of knocking them out.”

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Arsenal’s Kieran Gibbs is set to miss three weeks of action with an ankle injury which he sustained in Wednesday’s Champions League win over Partizan Belgrade.

On Thursday, Gibbs underwent a series of scans that gave results landing him on the sideline and keeping him out of action for Monday’s visit to Manchester United.

“We have lost Kieran Gibbs from Wednesday night but he should be the only one. We think today that he will be out for three weeks,” Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger told the club’s official website.

“I am very disappointed [about it]. I hope it will not put in his mind that he is an injured player. It was just an accident and you cannot do anything about it. Time will help him get over that and it is not major damage in his ankle.

“We should have [Gael] back [for Monday]. He was in today. He was very weak still but we hope he will progress well.

It is still unclear if Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas will be back from a hamstring injury for Monday’s title match.

“We could have Cesc Fabregas [back],” added Wenger. “But there is a big uncertainty if he can be in the squad or not. That will be decided very late.”

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Wayne Rooney admitted how pleased was for Manchester United to lead Group C in Champions League play after having to come from behind to draw with Valencia.

The Spanish side went up on top after Pablo Hernandez netted a goal 32 minutes into action.  Anderson would equalized for the Red Devils in the 62nd minute of play.

Wayne Rooney told Sky Sports: “We knew what we had to do here and that was get the result to make sure we finished top of the group, and I thought Valencia probably scored against the run of play.

“In the second half we were on top, got the equaliser and then it was always going to be a nervous last 10 minutes because they’re pushing for a goal and we want to hold on to make sure we finish top of the group, so I thought we’d done that well.”

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed he believes Rooney is nearing his old form that Red Devil supporters have been waiting for.

“Maybe just in and around the box I need to get that sharpness back in front of goal but overall I am happy with my fitness and happy with my performance today,” he admitted.

Following the match, Nemanja Vidic felt the most important thing to take away from the game, was the fact that his side was able to come out on top, avoiding Barcelona and Real Madrid in the next round of play.

“Obviously we would have liked to have not conceded a goal to keep that solid back four and to break the record but, like I said, it was most important we go through first in the group which helps in the draw in a few weeks time,” he admitted.

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Ivory Coast international footballer Didier Drogba, who is yet to notch a Champions League title, is set to return to his former club Marseille this week when Chelsea travel to France for their last match of group play.

During Drogba’s year-long stint at Marseille, the feared hit-man netted 19 Ligue 1 goals, as well as another 11 in Europe following his arrival at Guingamp.

Drogba’s goals immediately made him a Marseille hero.  While Drogba is eager to return to his old club, he is even more focused on winning a Champions League crown.

“I’ve said before that to win the Champions League is very important, but at the same time I know there are big players who haven’t won it,” said Drogba.

“Of course, because I am a competitor, I will do everything to win it. This is a competition I used to watch when I was younger – I used to watch and be happy to see players like Nicolas Anelka, for example, lifting the cup. So yes, that is something I want but it is not easy to win it.

“I think I can score more goals, and also maybe create more assists. Sometimes it’s difficult to score so you need to help the team as much as you can. Creating assists is a big part of it.

“It’s funny because I only played one year in Marseille but the feeling between the fans, the city, and me is unbelievable. I gave everything and they gave it back to me as well. They still love me and it’s nice when I go there.

“I’m very excited because obviously people know how much I love Marseille, it’s going to be the first time for me to go back there and be on the pitch, so it’s going to be special.

“It’s going to be nice and I know that people there are going to have a good time, they will see Chelsea and they love Chelsea, so it will be a good moment.”

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Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has now made it know he has his eye set on finishing on top of their UEFA Champions League group after seeing FC Barcelona’s level of play.

Redknapp and the rest of the world saw Barca manhandle Real Madrid earlier in the week, which has only made the Spurs boss that much more aware that they should try and avoid the Spanish club for as long as possible.

Barca have locked themselves into the top position in their group.  If the Spurs are able to finish on top as well, they will not have to play the La Liga powerhouse squad in the next round.

“I think anyone wants to avoid them!” said Redknapp of the 2009 European champions.

“It was just amazing; it was as good as I have ever seen. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better performance.

“It just goes to show you don’t need big power.

“Any little lads out there who are growing up, don’t ever be told you’re too small to play the game, because it’s about ability, this game.

“Look at Barcelona with their players: (Andres) Iniesta, Xavi (Hernandez) – just incredible – (Lionel) Messi. Tiny little lads with fantastic ability.

“So, when you’ve got that ability and you can play and pass the ball, that’s the way to play the game.

“Any little kids who watch and get told they’re too small, watch that video and you’ll see you’re never too small.

“It’s not about size; it’s about ability and wanting to play.”

Currently, Tottenham lead Group A on goal difference over Inter Milan, who are set to travel to Werder Bremen in their final match.

Spurs will next take on FC Twente, who are already on their way into the knockout stage of the Europa League.

“They’ll want to win; they’ll want to beat us, for sure, and we want to finish top if we can, so there is a lot to play for,” Redknapp said.

“Inter Milan will go to Germany looking to win because that top position is important.

“Otherwise, it’s Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich. If you can, you want to avoid them and you do want to finish top.

“You would certainly have a better chance of getting someone (less difficult) and progressing.”

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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that hit-man Wayne Rooney just may be on the bench during Saturday’s game against Wigan.

Rooney has been M.I.A. ever since their 2-2 draw with West Brom in October due to an ankle injury.

Many have speculated that Rooney, however, was pushed out of the spotlight by Ferguson following him being overly-vocal about his future with Man United.

But when it was all said and done, rather than leave Old Trafford, Rooney signed a new five-year deal keeping him part of the Red Devils squad.

Rooney has put in work to be considered for a spot on the bench against Wigan, and Ferguson has stated that the 25 year-old hit-man will definitely see some action in Wednesday’s Champions League match against Rangers at Ibrox.

“I don’t think he’ll start tomorrow,” Ferguson told radio station Key 103.

“Maybe he will reach the bench. But he will certainly play on Wednesday against Rangers.”

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Inter Milan right back, Maicon, regarded as the world’s best in that position, watched the Welshman score a hat-trick in Milan and then provide two assists in the return game at White Hart Lane.

The Brazilian international told Football Italia, ”Anyone who knows English football knows who Bale is.”

The 21-year-old star’s performance was “not a surprise.”

“He put in a great performance. All of Tottenham did and with the third goal they sealed it.”

Tottenham will have a job on their hands to keep Bale. He is attracting interest all over Europe and while we think he’s at a very good club in Spurs, where he will continue to develop under the guidance of a manager who brought through the likes of Lampard, Ferdinand, Joe Cole, and Defoe at a young age. There will come a time that Bale’s head will be turned, or the Spurs won’t be able to resist a silly money offer for his services.

Until that happens, and even if it does happen, we’re enjoying his performances.

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has stated that midfielder and team captain Cesc Fabregas will be read for Wednesday’s battle with Shakhtar Donetsk in Champions League play.

Fabregas played the full 90 in their 1-0 victory over the Hammers on Saturday, as the Gunners earned three points thanks to an Alex Song header.

Following the match, Wenger admitted that Fabregas was battling a hamstring strain and was considering keeping him on the bench for the second half.

“Cesc played a bit within himself. He had a bit of tension in his hamstring. Let’s hope he has no setback,” Wenger said.

“At half-time, I had a hesitation to take him off.

“Then I left him on, I thought ‘just for 10 or 15 minutes’, but in the end he got better and better.”

If the Gunners snag three points on Wednesday (which they likely will… seeing as how they laid a 5-1 beat down last time around), they will qualify from Group H.

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Chelsea will be without their star hitman Didier Drogba for their trip to Spartak Moscow due to a fever.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti has stated that he would obviously love having Drogba in his squad next week, but admits that his star attacker will be short of fitness due to a lack of training as of late.

“I don’t think he will be able to play on Tuesday because he hasn’t trained this week, and he needs to train,” Ancelotti said.

“He will be here at Cobham. He’ll have to recover from the illness. We can cope because we will have a fit Salonon Kalou over there.”

Kalou is set to make a return from a thigh injury, and Daniel Sturridge will likely play from the first whistle.

There is also a chance that England international Frank Lampard may be fit enough to make the trip with the squad following his time off due to injury.

“Kalou will be available for the Champions League and Sturridge needs days of recovery,” Ancelotti added.

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Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez netted an 85th goal to lift the Red Devils over Valencia at the Mestella, notching Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad their first Champions League Group C success.

Following their 0-0 draw against Rangers, it looked as though Manchester United was set for yet another disappointing point with their obvious lack of attacking presence.  It seemed as though Valencia’s crowd for 52,000 fans was enough to frustrate the Premier League boys.

With just five minutes left in regular time, ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez made his way off the bench to net the game-winner.  On a United counter attack, Hernandez sent a shot to the bottom corner and into back of the net.

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