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I´m completely focused on Arsenal, insists Wenger amid England talk
28 September 2016
Arsene Wenger has reaffirmed his commitment to Arsenal after once again being linked with the England job.
Sam Allardyce's stunning departure on Tuesday after just one game in charge leaves the Football Association searching for a new manager, although England Under-21 boss Gareth Southgate will take charge of the senior team for their next four matches.
Wenger, who celebrates 20 years at the helm at Arsenal this weekend, has been linked with the position before and his current contract at the Emirates Stadium expires at the end of the season.
Speaking after Arsenal's 2-0 win over Basel in the Champions League on Wednesday, the Frenchman admitted to being flattered to be talked about as a potential candidate for the vacancy - but insisted he was only focused on his current employers.
"My priority has always been this club. Until the end of this season I am here and completely focused on that," he told reporters.
"I said many times my priority was towards Arsenal Football Club, I will have to assess how well I do until the end of the season."
Wenger's Arsenal extended their unbeaten run to eight games with a routine victory over their Swiss opponents on Wednesday.
The in-form Theo Walcott scored both goals for the hosts in the first half, taking his tally to four in his last three games.
"I would like to congratulate my team for the quality of football they produced. The first half was top, top class," Wenger told the club's official website.
"We have to be ambitious but also keep our feet on the ground. We know how we want to play but we still want to get better."
Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are locked together on four points at the top of Group A.
Dani Alves: Juventus expect to win Champions League
Stefan Coerts
Sep 30, 2016 18:34:39
The Brazilian defender believes that the Turin side are good enough to demand success in every competition that they play in and says the pressure is a "motivation" to him
Dani Alves has set his sights on Champions League glory with Juventus and believes the Serie A champions have what it takes to go all the way in Europe.
Massimiliano Allegri's men beat Dinamo Zagreb 4-0 on Tuesday to make it four points from two games in Group H after their scoreless draw with Sevilla on matchday one.
A double header against Lyon awaits now and Alves is confident they can see off the French side on their way to the knockout stages.
Pogba needs Mourinho to axe Fellaini
"Juventus are an excellent side and are capable of taking on anyone in Europe," Alves told Sky Sport.
"With that quality comes the expectation of going all the way in every competition and, step by step, we can do it. Of course it won't be easy, just like becoming domestic champions or winning every match possible, but this is what you expect from a club like Juve.
"We have the requisite focus to sustain our form over the entire campaign.
"A club like this will always be expected to entertain its supporters with league titles and good football and that pressure is an added motivation to succeed. That, after all, is what pushes you to the very top."
Juventus made it to the final of the Champions League in 2014-15, where Barcelona proved to be too strong.
The left-back sustained a thigh injury while playing for Spain on Thursday but Barcelona are confident he will be back to face the English side in the Champions League
Barcelona have announced that Jordi Alba will be sidelined for 10 days with a thigh injury, meaning he should be fit for the Champions League clash with Manchester City.
The left-back was forced off in the first half of Spain's 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw against Italy in Turin on Thursday after pulling up in discomfort.
Alba has since undergone tests that show he has sustained minor damage to his left hamstring, which will keep him out of the league meeting with Deportivo La Coruna next Saturday.
He should, however, be available for the Champions League group game against Pep Guardiola's City at Camp Nou the following Wednesday.
"Medical tests have confirmed that Jordi Alba has an elongation of the femoral biceps in his left thigh," a Barca statement reads. "The approximate time out will be 10 days."
Monaco will do everything to beat 'aggressive' CSKA - Jardim
Chris Myson
Oct 17, 2016 20:16:22
The Ligue 1 side travel to play CSKA Moscow, who sit bottom of Group E, with the Portuguese expecting his side to be tested to the limit
Leonardo Jardim insists Monaco are not taking the threat of CSKA Moscow lightly as they prepare to play in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Liverpool better than envious Man Utd
Group E leaders Monaco travel to Russia with hosts CSKA sitting bottom of the pile on only one point, but head coach Jardim does not think there is a significant gulf in class.
CSKA are without Roman Eremenko and the injured Alan Dzagoev, although the Ligue 1 side are also missing key players - injured trio Radamel Falcao, Nabil Dirar and Almamy Toure.
Jardim's men can move six points clear of CSKA with a victory, but that is not something the visitors are taking for granted.
"We are expecting a tough game and expect that CSKA will play aggressively but also in a dynamic way," Jardim said at his pre-match media conference."We will do everything to win the three points and give a good image of Monaco in Russia.
"We have only had two days to prepare but I am sure we will do that.
"The loss of Roman Eremenko and Alan Dzagoev is of course a blow for CSKA, but as far as I know, they have a good team and their head coach will find some alternatives.
"They are the champions of Russia with many Russian internationals. They managed to finish above Zenit St Petersburg, who we know are a very good team.
Klopp: Mourinho past it? It’s bull****!
"We are expecting a very difficult match against a quality team.
"Two months ago during the draw, everyone said we had been drawn in an even group. I see now that this is definitely the case and every match has been close so far. This group is balanced, with four quality teams.
Leicester City's heroics inspired the whole world, says Solbakken
Joe Wright
Oct 17, 2016 19:58:06
The coach faces the Foxes in the Champions League on Tuesday and admits he was cheering on Claudio Ranieri's men last season but is hoping to dent their hopes now
Leicester City's Premier League triumph last season was an inspiration for the world, according to Copenhagen head coach Stale Solbakken.
Claudio Ranieri's side caused one of the biggest upsets in English football history when they claimed the title just a year after finishing six points above the relegation zone.
Leicester have lost four of their opening eight league games this term but have started their maiden Champions League campaign in strong form, beating Club Brugge and Porto in their first two group matches without conceding a goal.
And Solbakken - who spent one season in England's top flight as a player with Wimbledon - says every team in the world should learn lessons from the way Leicester have played for the past year.
"They inspired the whole world," he told a news conference ahead of Copenhagen's trip to the King Power Stadium on Tuesday.
"That a team like Leicester is able to win the Premier League – everyone has to know what their team-mate on the pitch does and what the coach tells him and play with that little extra motivation.
"We all cheered for Leicester last season, the whole world did that. It was very good for world football that an outsider like Leicester won the championship in England. Everyone can learn from that."
Solbakken believes a strong start is crucial if Copenhagen are to have a chance of building on their impressive 4-0 win over Club Brugge on matchday two.
"We have to stand up for the first 20 minutes – when you look at the Porto game they came flying out," he said. "The tempo difference between the Premier League and Danish Super League is there for all to see and we have to equal that as soon as possible. Then we'll have the possibility to play more our own game.
"Their home performances have been quite stable, it has been away from home to the giants [Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea] – all three played very well against Leicester.
"If you aren't on top of your game when they play you will struggle. It would be nice to score the first goal and see the reaction."
Pochettino: Knockout stages within Tottenham's reach
Chris Myson
Oct 17, 2016 19:56:15
The Spurs boss says the Champions League last 16 will be much closer to the White Hart Lane club if they can extend their strong run of form
Mauricio Pochettino urged his Tottenham players to keep up their recent momentum to claim a win away to Bayer Leverkusen that would put them in prime position to progress from Group E.
Liverpool better than envious Man Utd
Spurs have won five and drawn one of their last six matches in all competitions ahead of Tuesday's Champions League match in Germany.
Pochettino's side are second in the group, one point behind leaders Monaco and one in front of Leverkusen, who they also meet at Wembley on November 2.
The manager told his Spurs squad to ride the momentum of their recent fine form, with the prospect of a victory - which would open up a four-point lead over the Bundesliga side - at the centre of his mind.
"The power of the team is that anyone can play and everyone is fighting for a place in the starting XI," Pochettino said at his pre-match media conference.
"We are in a very good moment and we need to keep that.
"To achieve something it is important to keep that mentality in the squad because the next two games, here and Wembley, will decide the possibility to go to the next round
"It's important that we win. We want to go to the next round, so it's key to take the three points, then to play at Wembley in the same way.
"[Bayer Leverkusen] are a team that we know very well with very good players. It's a team that is normally playing in the Champions League.
"They have good experience but we will see."
Key defender Toby Alderweireld is out with a leg injury that Pochettino does not think is serious, while Kyle Walker (rested) and Harry Kane (ankle) are also absent.
"We believe it is not a big issue," Pochettino said of Alderweireld.
"Now we have to wait for the result of the scan, which he took this afternoon."
Ranieri: Leicester need best performance of the season against Copenhagen
Chris Myson
Oct 17, 2016 18:11:58
The Italian says it is crucial the Premier League champions pick up three points on Tuesday night and says they will need to be much-improved from the weekend
Claudio Ranieri expects his Leicester City players to produce their best performances for the two crucial Champions League clashes against Copenhagen.
The Premier League champions host Copenhagen on Tuesday, before travelling to Denmark for the return game on November 2.
Ranieri is aware those matches will be crucial in deciding Leicester's chances of progression in the competition and wants his team fully focused.
Leicester go into the game struggling in the league - they have eight points from as many matches to kick-off 2016-17 - but their two Champions League wins over Club Brugge and Porto have them top of Group G on six points, two clear of second-placed Copenhagen.
"The next two matches [in the Champions League] are very important and will tell us what we can do," manager Ranieri said at his pre-match media conference.
"We must do the best performance of the season. It's very important for us to get three points.
"We have had normal words, normal training. Just recharged, clean the mind and think about the next match."
Leicester, who have now lost four straight away matches in the league after Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Chelsea, failed to register a shot on target at Stamford Bridge as Riyad Mahrez, Danny Simpson and Islam Slimani were all rested with the Copenhagen clash in mind.
Ranieri insisted he had no regrets about rotating his team immediately after the match and has stressed his players are not machines ahead of their next continental test.
He continued: "My players made the world crazy with what happened last season, it was a fantastic spirit, a fairy-tale.
"I want them to show their strength, their love of football, of the team, for Leicester and for this reason I want more.
"It is normal when you first play in Europe that the team loses something - they are human, not machines."
Injured Mandzukic to miss Juventus' Champions League clash with Lyon
Dom Farrell
Oct 17, 2016 17:19:16
The striker has been left out of the Italian champions' 20-man travelling party as a result of injury and will be monitored ahead of Saturday's trip to Milan
Juventus will be without Mario Mandzukic for their Champions League Group H match against Lyon after the Croatia striker suffered an adductor strain.
The full extent of Mandzukic's injury is not known at this stage and Juventus' medical staff will assess the 30-year-old ahead of Saturday's trip to Milan.
"Mario Mandzukic … picked up a muscular strain in his right adductor region, the extent of which will be evaluated in the coming days," read a statement on the Juventus website announcing the 20-man travelling party to Stade des Lumieres.
Head coach Massimiliano Allegri will also be without Giorgio Chiellini for Tuesday's match due to the experienced defender sustaining a thigh problem.
The Serie A champions lie top of Group H, above Sevilla on goal difference, having thrashed Dinamo Zagreb 4-0 last time out.
Sir Alex: Leicester will go far in the Champions League
Chris Myson
Oct 27, 2016 17:17:23
The former Manchester United thinks the Foxes will be tough to beat in Europe although he thinks lifting the trophy is beyond Claudio Ranieri's men
Sir Alex Ferguson believes Leicester City can make a deep run in the Champions League after their Premier League title success last season.
Claudio Ranieri's men shocked the world by winning the top-flight in 2015-16, but they already sit nine points off the pace after as many matches this time around.
In the Champions League, though, Leicester are on the brink of reaching the last 16 having taken maximum points from Group G games against Club Brugge, Porto and Copenhagen.
Sir Alex does not think that will be the end of Leicester's run in Europe's elite club competition and is tipping them to reach the latter stages, although he stopped short of saying they would go all the way.
"Their transfer policy was fantastic," former Manchester United boss Ferguson told Kicker about Leicester's title success.
"They got players with a hunger for success and a will to win, not overpriced players.
"They're a good example for other clubs - in the Championship as well, where teams like Barnsley and Huddersfield come from scratch now. It is possible!
"It will be difficult for Leicester in the league, but in the Champions League, after three wins in three games, I think they are capable of making a deeper run, although not winning the trophy."
Meanwhile, Sir Alex believes Tottenham - who finished third last season - are in with a strong chance of another high finish due to the presence of manager Mauricio Pochettino.
He added: "For my money Mauricio Pochettino has fantastic potential. Spurs have a good mix of youth and experience. Top players like [Harry] Kane or [Eric] Dier were injured but they're still in a good position.
"I am disappointed that there are not more English or Scottish managers [at the top level], but at the end of the day, quality is the decisive factor. The overseas owners want success and the best."
The former Chelsea and Manchester United forward had not netted in the competition since February 2010 before scoring twice for Monaco against CSKA Moscow
Radamel Falcao's return to Champions League football this season has not quite gone to plan, but the Colombian's drought in the competition is finally over.
The former Manchester United and Chelsea striker netted twice in the first half as Monaco put CSKA Moscow to the sword on matchday four.
And his first goal saw him find the net in Europe's premier club competition for the first time in over six years.
His last strike came in a 2-1 win for Porto over Arsenal in Februay 2010 - a mere 2450 days ago!
Bale sets Real Madrid record for fastest Champions League goal
Nov 2, 2016 20:06:22
The Welshman absolutely hammered home Los Blancos' opener against Legia Warsaw following an assist from Cristiano Ronaldo less than a minute into their match in Poland
Gareth Bale's opener for Real Madrid against Legia Warsaw just 57 seconds into their Champions League tie on Wednesday is the club's fastest in the competition.
The Welshman hammered home a stunning volley less than a minute into the clash at Pepsi Arena following a flick-on from Ronaldo.
And Bale had more than one reason other than having netted a potential goal of the campaign candidate as he wrote himself into Madrid's history books.
Spanish radio station Cadena Cope has claimed that the Barcelona man was provoked by an unknown City player in the tunnel after the Champions League clash on Tuesday night
Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho has refuted suggestions that he was involved in a spat with Lionel Messi.
It was reported in Spain late on Tuesday night that an unknown City player had provoked Messi in the tunnel at the Etihad Stadium after Barcelona were beaten 3-1 by Pep Guardiola's side.
City striker Sergio Aguero was supposed to have acted as peacemaker as Messi angrily made his way towards the home dressing room, according to the reports, although Aguero himself insisted “it was nothing serious. I heard something but I don’t know what happened”.
On Wednesday afternoon it was claimed in Globo Esporte that Fernandinho was the instigator of the alleged fracas, but the Brazilian wasted little time in tweeting his version of events.
“I don’t know where the rumours and discussion about my role in the provocation of Messi came from,” he said.
“I just want to say that the rumours that are circulating in the media are absurd: I didn’t even have contact with any Barcelona players or technical staff after the game.
“Instigating and provoking are not in my nature, bearing in mind that I put a lot of importance on showing respect both on and off the pitch, regardless of the opposition or player in question.”
Calls for Sporting v Real Madrid assistant referee to be sacked
Nov 25, 2016 14:57:52
The linesman missed an important engagement in his regular job due to his commitment with UEFA - and it's not the first time it's happened
Douglas Ross, who was an assistant referee during the Sporting CP and Real Madrid Champions League match on Tuesday, has faced calls to be sacked - from his day job after the big European matchup caused him to miss an important meeting.
Ross represents the constituency of Highlands and Islands for the Conservative Party in the Scottish Parliament, but the MSP missed a meeting of the justice committee to run the line in Lisbon. As a result, there have been calls for him to step down as the party’s justice spokesman.
The assistant referee earns up to £40,000 per year due to his officiating duties, he reported in the Scottish Parliament register of interests, and is also a councillor with Moray Council.
“The arrogance and blatant disrespect of ‘three jobs’ Tory Douglas Ross is simply staggering,” Ben Macpherson, a MSP for the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP), is reported by the BBC to have said.
“Last time the whistle was blown on one of his refereeing junkets the Tories claimed it was just a ‘one off’. But he's at it again - and this time it should be a straight red card.
“Obviously he values his £40k-a-year weekend job - and all-expenses paid trips to Lisbon and other European cities - more than his responsibilities as an MSP and local councillor, demonstrating complete contempt for the people who elected him.
“If Douglas Ross can't pitch up to do his job, it's time for relegation - he should either take a step back from refereeing or stand down from Holyrood's justice committee with immediate effect, and [Scottish Conservative leader] Ruth Davidson should give him the boot from her frontbench team.”
Ross previously courted controversy in the summer, when the news broke that he missed a vote on local taxation policy that hinged on his ballot as he undertook training for World Cup 2014.
Meanwhile, Madrid won Tuesday’s fixture 2-1, with Karim Benzema heading a late winner.
Atletico fan sues UEFA for Champions League final damages
Nov 25, 2016 17:12:56
A disgruntled fan is seeking €1,660 compensation from the European football governing body because of damage caused due to an incorrect refereeing decision
Atletico Madrid fan Jose Antonio Campon has filed a lawsuit against UEFA and Mark Clattenburg, seeking damages because of Clattenburg's decision to allow Sergio Ramos's offside goal to stand.
Real opened the scoring after 15 minutes when Ramos converted past Jan Oblak, but replays showed that the Spain defender was in an offside position when receiving the ball. Atletico equalised to see the game finish 1-1, but Zinedine Zidane's side lifted the trophy on penalties.
Due to the incorrect decision, Campon has decided to file a lawsuit at Leganes Court, complaining that UEFA "did not use all means to ensure compliance with the rules, and elected people that did not perform their duties to the required standards."
Campon is seeking €1,660 in compensation from European football's governing body: €160 for the price of admission, and €1,500 as compensation for moral damages.
Lawyer Carlos Mendez and his client hope that the lawsuit will also get UEFA to implement video technology which will stop similar incidents happening in future.
"If you go to the cinema and there is no sound, you get your money back. This is the same," Mendez told AS.
"There are norms and they have been violated. That is why we are filing a claim against the employer and the employee as those responsible.
"The ultimate goal is to change this situation and we believe it is common sense. We demand a reasonable amount, [Campon] is not about to become a millionaire with this."
Campon insists that he is raising the lawsuit to change officiating, not to make money, saying that the refereeing decision only benefitted Real Madrid.
"We are suing the system in order for the technical means that exist to be applied, they are already in use in other sports," the Atletico supporter told AS.
"These mistakes are always to the detriment of the weak."
Xhaka needs big Basel homecoming to assert himself in Arsenal's midfield
Chris Wheatley
Dec 5, 2016 19:03:42
The midfielder faces his former club and older brother for a second time in as many months on Tuesday night as he continues to bid to earn a regular starting place
COMMENT
It is almost five years since Granit Xhaka left FC Basel for German giants Borussia Monchengladbach, and on Tuesday night the Switzerland international will return to where it all began. Born in Basel to Kosovo Albanian parents, the 24-year-old will also come up against his older brother Taulant for the third time this year in a battle of two talented midfielders looking to get one over each other.
"Quite an emotional trip for me to Basel, where I had my first steps of my career," Xhaka posted on social media before boarding Arsenal’s private jet to Switzerland on Monday. The match at St Jakob-Park will resonate with Xhaka and fellow former Basel player Mohamed Elneny more than others in the Gunners' squad, and it is perhaps one reason why they are expected to start as the central-midfield duo for Arsene Wenger’s side.
Xhaka arrived in north London for a fee of £30 million as Wenger stepped up his search to find long-term replacements for the departed Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky. Despite getting off to an impressive start, scoring a debut goal against Hull City and an equally stunning long-range effort in the EFL Cup away to Nottingham Forest, a place in Wenger's XI has been difficult to come by for a player who played in and captained Gladbach almost every match last season.
His qualities aren’t typical of what Wenger has sought in previous transfer windows. Xhaka isn’t a diminutive, tricky or particular skilful midfielder, but what Arsenal do have is an aggressive, tough tackling passer who is able to direct defence-splitting balls through the eye of a needle. Santi Cazorla’s absence due to injury is a huge blow but there may be a saving grace in Xhaka - even if Saturday’s match against West Ham was one of the easier games he’s likely to play in this season.
"Xhaka has a number of qualities," Basel’s sporting director Georg Heitz told Goal shortly after Xhaka joined Arsenal. "Football-wise he is a natural-born leader but I think the outstanding quality is his mentality because he wants to win, win, win.
"I remember when he went to the Under-17 World Cup in 2009 he told us he took enough clothes to reach the final and then he came back as a world champion.
"That’s an example just to show how strong his mentality is. They [the young players] need to know that they have to work hard. Granit is a player who definitely wants to work hard and who has shown that by developing in Gladbach and becoming captain at a young age."
Indeed, the leadership qualities that Heitz refers to are only going to benefit Arsenal going forward. It remains to be seen whether Xhaka will be a part of their first-choice midfield when everyone is fully fit; despite his sound overall performance, Shkodran Mustafi created more chances than him against West Ham and his seven Premier League starts from a possible 14 is an illustration of the fact Wenger believes he needs to be bedded into the team more slowly than many would have predicted when he signed.
Xhaka’s goal away to Ludogorets in an earlier Group A game provided of a glimpse of what he capable when he drives into the final third of the pitch. With Francis Coquelin providing defensive cover alongside him, all that remains to be seen is whether Xhaka has the qualities to be Arsenal's deep-lying playmaker while Cazorla is sidelined.
"[Granit] needs to adapt, then we need to find the balance because he plays in a deeper-lying midfield position, and he passes through the lines," Wenger told Arsenal’s official website last month.
"He needs to adapt to the way we play and the tactical pace of the English game. I am confident he will do very well.
"Yes [he is taking time to adapt] but that is part of the job. People want you to buy players but when you buy them we only have 11 spaces and not 22, and they feel sorry for the 11 who do not play. You want them to compete and convince you that they can get in the team."
If it is only a case of adapting to his new-found role in this Arsenal team then neither Xhaka or Wenger have much to worry about. They are blessed with a handful of talented players who are able to fill in for Cazorla, including Aaron Ramsey and the versatile Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but it is the Swiss who will be given licence to stake his claim at St Jakob-Park.
Xhaka's homecoming in Switzerland has all the ingredients to become an entertaining final group game but you can be sure that he will be leaving any sentiment until after he has taken on his older brother and former club on Tuesday night.
Carlo Ancelotti is not prepared to risk the Germany international defender in Champions League competition after seeing him pick up a muscle problem
Jerome Boateng has been ruled out of Bayern Munich's Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid due to a minor injury.
The Germany international has sustained a "minor muscle problem" and will not be risked for the game against last season's beaten finalists at the Allianz Arena.
"He has some discomfort and he will miss out," head coach Carlo Ancelotti told a news conference. "It's a minor muscle problem."
Ancelotti also confirmed that attacking duo Julian Green and Kingsley Coman are not fit to be involved, but Holger Badstuber and Xabi Alonso should both be available.
Ancelotti said he is prepared to make a number of changes to the side that beat Mainz 3-1 in the Bundesliga last Friday, with Bayern already guaranteed to progress from Group D in second place, behind Atletico.
However, the former Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain coach is keen to secure another positive result to keep his squad's morale high following back-to-back league wins.
"The team has the quality to play in different formations and how we set up will depend on the game we're playing," he said.
"We've won two games in the Bundesliga and we want to pick up some more confidence with a result against Atletico."
Luis Enrique: I don't give a s**t about beating Gladbach
Joe Wright
Dec 5, 2016 14:48:15
The Catalan side are already through as winners of Champions League Group C and the coach is not concerned with the result of their last game of the round
Luis Enrique wants his Barcelona players to get a morale boost by beating Borussia Monchengladbach on Tuesday, though he claims the result will not matter at all to him.
Will Messi break Ronaldo's Champions League group-stage goals record?
The Spanish champions were held to a 1-1 draw in El Clasico on Saturday, extending their run to just two wins in their last seven matches in all competitions.
Their final Champions League group game this week could offer some respite from their domestic struggles, however, as Barca have already guaranteed top spot in Group C ahead of the Bundesliga side's visit to Camp Nou.
"Without any doubt, the coaches are judged by results," Luis Enrique told a media conference. "I don't give a s**t about winning [on Tuesday] for my own morale, but it's important that we get a win for the morale of my players.
"My general plan will not change. I don't see concerns, only football situations that can be improved.
"The plan is to be alive in every competition, to come up with chances to win every trophy possible. It's an ambitious, demanding plan, to get to May with the chance of winning everything."
Luis Enrique hopes to see Camp Nou given an entertaining performance on Tuesday but insists that his squad are ambitious as ever when it comes to fighting for trophies.
"If you talk about attitude, it's a big mistake. If this team has anything, it's ambition. I've never seen a lack of attitude," he said.
"Winning is always a cure for what ails you. We've had an almost perfect group stage and so the game is almost incidental.
"But it's a Champions League game in front of our own fans and we want to have fun, irrespective of the players I'll use."
Luis Enrique confirmed that he will start Lionel Messi, despite Barca being likely to field an otherwise weaker side.
The 46-year-old also calmed any concerns over Neymar, who has been diagnosed with muscle fatigue but is suspended for the games against Gladbach and Osasuna this week.
"Messi will play tomorrow, from the start," he said. "Neymar picked up a knock and we have to control his work load a little more. If he weren't banned he wouldn't be available. He should recover okay."
Emery: Sealing first place in Champions League group is key for PSG
Chris Myson
Dec 5, 2016 15:14:49
The Ligue 1 champions suffered a 3-0 defeat to Montpellier at the weekend, and the coach wants them to regain confidence by earning a good result in their last European group game
Paris Saint-Germain boss Unai Emery says first place in Champions League Group A has always been top priority for the club, and feels beating Arsenal to pole-position would boost his players' confidence.
Victory at home to Ludogorets on Tuesday will ensure PSG finish in first position and play against a runner-up from another pool in the last 16.
PSG could also get top spot without claiming three points if Arsenal fail to beat Basel in the group's other match.
In each of the last two seasons, PSG failed to finish first, meaning they had to face two testing ties against Chelsea in the last 16.
Although they managed to progress on each occasion, Emery wants to avoid a similar test.
"Yes, the first goal was to finish first in the group," he said at his pre-match media conference.
"We will see if that is best for the last 16, but I think for the confidence it is important to finish first."
PSG come into the match on a low note having been comprehensively beaten 3-0 at Montpellier in Ligue 1 on Saturday, but Emery wants to banish that memory.
"It is clear that this was a bad game," said the former Sevilla head coach. "It hurt the confidence of the team.
"We must forget that moment and think about the good things that the team did before this defeat. Think positively.
"Forgetting is important right now. If some players have been bad, it is in the context of a single game.
"Good things have been done before and I trust them to bounce back. They are two different competitions."
On team news, Emery added: "Lavyin Kurzawa played on Saturday and finished in a good state physically.
"Javier Pastore and Adrien Rabiot are not ready for the match, Marco Verratti is suspended.
