It is somewhat ironic that an Arsenal side who have done all they can to avoid 0-0 draws in recent matches would now be perfectly satisfied with that scoreline in the Stadio Olimpico.

This contradiction is not lost on Arsene Wenger, who has struggled with the balance of his team all season as they lurched from leaking goals to an almost embarrassing paralysis in attack.

The Champions League brings with it another challenge in trying to find that equilibrium between defence and attack, particularly as the Gunners only take a solitary unanswered goal to Rome.

In years gone by, a 1-0 home win in the first leg of a knockout clash was considered something of a failure as away goals were regarded as a rare commodity.

But as European football has evolved, teams have become increasingly happy with a clean sheet at home knowing the emphasis is on the hosts to attack in the return while confidence on the road generally has grown.

With that in mind, Wenger insists his side will not be caught between playing it safe and going for broke at a time when victories over West Brom and Burnley have hinted that a degree of harmony is returning to Arsenal's play.

He said: "We are quite solid defensively but I believe it's down to achieving a good balance between attack and defence. We always have an offensive attitude and sometimes that's the best way so you don't come under pressure defensively.

"A 0-0 would do, but I don't think that's the way to behave going into a game like this as it's too dangerous. The positive thing about our home result is that we didn't concede a goal but we didn't score enough to think we just have to defend.

"We can score and be dangerous. They will certainly play differently but I expect Roma will be at their best and that's a challenge for us to be at our best.

"At the moment we are scoring goals again and it's a good way to be going into such a big game. Roma will go for it because they know they have to score at least two goals and put us under pressure. It's down to us to be well-organised and play our game."

Recent history offers both hope and caution for the Gunners tonight. Romahave not lost at home since 19 October on a run that includes a dominant display in beating Chelsea 3-1 back in the group stages.

However, the Giallorossi have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 14 matches against English opposition - something they almost certainly need to do tonight - and are the most shot-shy side left in the competition.

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last four visits to Italy, a run which encapsulates a 3-1 win against Roma inspired by Thierry Henry's hat-trick back in 2002.

"They had Fabio Capello as manager at the time and had great players - Francesco Totti, Cafu, Antonio Cassano; unbelievable names," said Wenger. "So to go there and score three goals was absolutely an amazing night for us."

Daniele De Rossi is suspended after picking up a yellow card in the first leg and as Roma boss Luciano Spalletti sweats on the fitness of several big names, Wenger has Eduardo and Theo Walcott back and chomping at the bit to start.

The momentum appears to be with Arsenal in this tie and it should not be tempered by the three-hour delay the team faced in leaving for Italy last night.

Several birds flew into the engine of their plane as it landed at Luton airport, meaning the Gunners had to charter the nearest suitable replacement - from Paris no less - but Wenger refused to use the disruption as a pre-emptive excuse.

"We waited for two hours at our training ground - up to now it's not been too disturbing," he said.

Tempo is surely key to Arsenal's chances tonight. Roma, who were carrying the palpably unfit Francesco Totti, the overweight Julio Baptista and the frankly awful John Arne Riise, were not able to live with the speed at which the Gunners moved the ball at Emirates Stadium.

"If we allow them to spend 90 per cent of their time doing what they like to do we expose ourselves," added Wenger. "So let's go there to impose ourselves and dictate our game. We can win anywhere in the world."

Should they be able to impose themselves in the same manner as the first leg and the 5-2 demolition of Fenerbahce, a team with a similarly formidable home record, then the quarter-finals beckon and with them an increasing possibility of a return in May to Rome, where the final will take place.

The Trevi Fountain is said to guarantee those who throw a coin into its waters a return to the city. For all his bullish talk, Wenger could be forgiven for just swinging by the Trevi Rione before kick-off and tossing a Euro or two into the water, just to be safe.