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Wenger positive despite draw

Arsène Wenger remains confident that Arsenal FC will "get a result" in Spain after being held by AS Roma.

By Trevor Haylett

Arsenal FC manager Arsène Wenger said he remained confident of his side's ability to secure a quarter-final berth in the UEFA Champions League for only the second time, despite being held 1-1 by AS Roma, the fourth successive draw for the English side in the competition.

On a knife edge
Arsenal's failure to kill off their Italian visitors, who were reduced to ten men after 21 minutes when Francesco Tiotti was shown the red card, leaves Group B balanced on a knife edge with all four teams still retaining hopes of going forward.

'Believe in my team'
Another stalemate next week away to Valencia CF would suffice for the Gunners and Wenger said: "I believe in this group of players and how strong they are. We have been very strong away from home, we won in Rome, we drew 0-0 against [AFC] Ajax, and I think we will get a result in Valencia."

'Quite mad'
Wenger admitted it infuriates him when he analyses his side's three home games in the second group stage. "If you add up the shots on goal we have had, and then add up the shots on goal against us, you'd get quite mad because of the possession we've had. It is difficult to believe really."

Missed chances
Certainly his team missed more than enough chances to have emerged comfortable winners on a dramatic Highbury night, no more so than around the 55th minute when in rapid succession Sylvain Wiltord, Robert Pires and Thierry Henry all blazed high and wide.

Early goal
They were left to rue their inability to add to Patrick Vieira's early goal, a calamity for the Roma defence as the Arsenal skipper, unattended following a corner, was allowed room to direct his header.

Damage limitation
Roma had been looking just to get to the break without a second breach of their goal, so overrun had they become after Totti was adjudged to have thrust a hand into the face of Martin Keown. Then out of the blue and in first-half stoppage time, Antonio Cassano stole in behind Pascal Cygan, deputising for the injured Sol Campbell, beat David Seaman to Emerson's long forward pass, and rolled the ball into the unguarded net.

Red card reaction
Fabio Capello thought the sending-off was harsh and said: "Totti just stuck his hand out. He did not even touch the defender's face." The Roma coach felt Keown was guilty of "acting" and added: "It was not a red card."

Tremendous heart
Depleted in numbers they may have been, but Roma battled with tremendous heart, and resolution, and having seen Arsenal fail to take advantage at the other end they then passed up a golden invitation in the final ten minutes to secure a remarkable victory. Cafu's cross left substitute Vincenzo Montella with only Seaman to beat, but he headed over.

'More than expected'
Capello added: "We showed tremendous character. To get a 1-1 draw against an amazing team like Arsenal is a fantastic achievement for us. What we have achieved in the last two matches is more than I expected. And we have given ourselves a chance."

'Top, top group'
After tasting defeat in their first three fixtures, Roma will still be able to negotiate a route into the quarter-finals should they beat Ajax and Arsenal avoid defeat in Spain. Incredibly then, there is still everything to play for on Matchday 12 and it left Wenger to conclude: "Already I feel sorry for the two teams who have to go out of this group. Quality-wise it is a top, top group."

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