Wenger wants night to remember

After 93 years, and 22 seasons of UEFA club competition, Highbury hosts its final European game on Wednesday night and Arsenal FC manager Arsène Wenger is demanding a suitably dominant performance as Villarreal CF visit for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.

Summer move
The English Premiership side are leaving their home since 1913 in the summer for a new stadium at nearby Ashburton Grove and, despite the lure of a first-ever European Champion Clubs' Cup final, Wenger is still able to find time to pay tribute to the old ground. "It will certainly be an emotional occasion," he said. "Part of my soul will stay in this stadium when we leave, I've spent the biggest part of my sports career here and Highbury has a special atmosphere. That emotion can work in our favour against Villarreal. The English have a great sense of history and we want to be proud of the last European night at Highbury."

Technical excellence
Both teams are in the semi-finals for the first time and Wenger – who has welcome news with Cesc Fabregas (foot) and Fredrik Ljungberg (calf) both available after injury, although left-backs Ashley Cole and Gäel Clichy are not involved despite returning to training and Sol Campbell misses out with a broken nose – believes his side face a fresh challenge having eliminated Real Madrid CF and Juventus so far in the knockout stage. "Villarreal are a bit like Arsenal; in January perhaps they didn't expect to be here in April," he said. "They're technically very good, mature tactically and have players that can make a difference. They're less physical than Juve, they rely more on mobility."

South American influence
Wenger's men have not conceded a UEFA Champions League goal since Matchday 2, an unbroken run of 739 minutes, and they will need all that resilience against a team who, although relative newcomers in UEFA competition, are yet to taste defeat against English opposition in five outings. The manager is especially wary of Villarreal's sizeable South American contingent, adding: "They play a very South American way. They play a slow-quick tempo and look to set the tempo before choosing the moment to strike. There's lots of similarities between the teams and it's up to us to set the pace. We play with pace and we want a quick tempo."

Enforced reshuffle
Wenger is without Spanish international José Antonio Reyes through suspension, but his selection looks straightforward compared to the dilemma facing opposite number Manuel Pellegrini. Already shorn of banned goalkeeper Sebastián Viera, for whom Mariano Barbosa should deputise, the Villarreal coach must have despaired as first-choice centre-backs Gonzalo Rodríguez and Juan Manuel Peña sustained ankle injuries during Friday's Primera División loss at FC Barcelona. Quique Álvarez and César Arzo will come in. "Gonzalo and Peña are very important players for us, but we have to overcome these obstacles," Pellegrini said.

'Positive vibes'
The Chilean is in relaxed mood, however, adding: "Everything is giving me positive vibes. To be in the Champions League semi-finals, against a great club like Arsenal and at a famous stadium like Highbury, is a great feeling." Pellegrini, who will deploy a zonal defence in a bid to contain five-goal Thierry Henry, is not unduly worried by Wenger's assertion that Arsenal will seek to force the pace of the game. "What matters is not whether you play slowly or quickly, but who is the better side," he said. "Arsenal are not just a good defence plus Henry, they are a great team who deserve to be here. But you don't get to the semi-finals of this competition every day. We've enjoyed our first taste of the Champions League but that doesn't mean we don't want to go further." Arsenal have been warned.