Friday, August 19, 2011

Udinese confident of home advantage against Arsenal

Udinese are undeniably the proverbial clog in the wheel of Arsenal's champions league dreams. The players of the Italian outfit have reiterated their desire to end the gunners sojourn in the elite competition at the Stadio Friuli come next week.

Veteran striker Antonio Di Natale says the visitor-cum-host has shown it possesses what it takes to knock Arsenal off their perch: "What a pity the first ten minutes were! After that, we played very well.

“We know Arsenal are a tough opponent, but we proved we can face them very well. We can still make it!,” the attacker boasted.

Speaking in a similar tone, the club's 30-year-old midfielder Giampiero Pinzi says it was a: “Beautiful performance, It’s a shame we couldn’t score.

"We created several attempts at scoring, but we didn't make it. Yet, I believe Arsenal can be defeated.”

Diego Fabbrini borrowed a leaf from his elders at the club, the youngster stated without mincing words that: “Qualification is still possible – especially, if the team can reproduce its first leg performance.

"The final result is unfair, everything is still open. We were unlucky to concede that goal in the early minutes, the result is unfair to us. We proved we can match the Arsenal," the 21-year-old attacking midfielder enthused.

Finally, Samir Handanovic believes they deserved a draw for their trouble in England. The goalie has made his mark on the daily bound to Arsenal front, and he did not let sentiments cloud his judgment of the game: “We deserved to draw, we created several attempts, it's a shame we lost.

"My saves? I’m there to do that. We can definitely make it in the second leg.”

Arsenal will travel to Udine next week with a solitary goal in the bag and a clean sheet to protect. Thanks in no small measure to the players determination to slug it out in Italy, the encounter already has the trappings of a fiesty affair. Hopefully our boys will put an end to the Champions league toddler's slim hopes of playing club football at its pinnacle this season.