Clichy: Arsenal have firepower to conquer Europe

James Olley
30 Sep 2009

Gael Clichy today insisted Arsenal have the firepower to end the club's four-year trophy drought this season, despite spurning a catalogue of chances in their Champions League victory over Olympiakos.

The Gunners were made to wait until the 78th minute to open the scoring in a one-sided contest as Robin van Persie finally found the target before Andrey Arshavin sealed the win to maintain a 100 per cent record in Group H.

Despite selling Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City in the summer, Arsene Wenger failed to bring in a replacement and that decision looked questionable as Arsenal wasted a multitude of chances in front of goal.

But Clichy believes the team carry a greater all-round threat in this campaign and have displayed enough attacking endeavour to suggest a first trophy since the 2005 FA Cup triumph is within their grasp.

He said: "I think last night we showed we can score. William Gallas and Thomas Vermaelen have eight goals altogether, the midfielders are scoring as are the strikers.

"Robin is getting on the scoresheet more often now. Of course we lost a great player in Adebayor but we have got a lot of other players like Arshavin, Rosicky, Eduardo, Van Persie and Fabregas as well.

"I think we have got plenty of quality to score goals from anywhere, which can only be good for the team.

"The only thing we say about the trophy drought is just play the way we play, and if we can take it game after game we know we will have a great season.

"We want to win something but you don't want to think about it too much because it adds pressure to the team. We have the quality to do it but we have to keep going."

Arshavin's effort was clearly offside and Olympiakos defender Olof Mellberg, formely of Aston Villa, was furious with French referee Stephane Lannoy, who was officiating in only his fourth Champions League match.

The Swede said: "Arsenal played well and we didn't. They were a level above us and on top of that the referee had a shocker as well. It is not a good combination here at Emirates and it was difficult for us.

"It was unbelievable how he could miss the offside for the second goal. But not only that, overall in the small decisions as well."

Tomorrow marks the 13th anniversary of Wenger's arrival at Arsenal - he will officially become the club's longest serving manager later this week - and Clichy believes the supporters should remember how the 59-year-old Frenchman has transformed the club during his tenure.

He added: "In the last few years, we haven't won anything and people talk badly about him. But we have to think about what he has done for the club.

"Arsenal are today one of the best in Europe and a big part of that is because of the boss and we have to give him credit."