Bendtner missing for Gunners

Posted Tuesday, September 29, 2009 by PA

Arsenal will be without Nicklas Bendtner for Tuesday's Champions League game against Olympiakos after the striker was involved in a minor car accident.

Manager Arsene Wenger said: "Nicklas did not practice because he had a car accident on Monday. Fortunately there was no real long-term damage, but he was bruised and we thought it better he did not train.

"He should be back for Sunday's game [against Blackburn]."

England forward Theo Walcott is expected to return from a back problem in time for the weekend, but Denilson is set for up to two months on the sidelines with a fracture to his back.

Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is still troubled by a chest infection, so Vito Mannone will continue in his place following man-of-the-match display against Fulham.

Samir Nasri (leg), Lukasz Fabianski (knee) and Johan Djourou (knee) remain out.

Bacary Sagna admits the Arsenal players are still haunted by the manner of their Champions League semi-final exit to Manchester United last season - but feels the experience can help them go all the way in Europe this term.

The Gunners failed to perform during the first leg at Old Trafford, but escaped with only a 1-0 defeat.

But a slip by young defender Kieran Gibbs handed United an early away goal in the second leg which all but killed off the tie - United going on to win the game 3-1.

Full-back Sagna, 26, believes those "bad experiences" can only serve the squad well as they bid to reach the 2010 final in Madrid.

"We knew we had the quality to play the final last year, but we didn't play our own game," he said.

"Against Manchester United we have some regrets and this year we want to give everything and go until the end.

"After the game we were still thinking about what might have been. This year we have to think about last year to improve and go forward. We are all looking forward."

Sagna added: "Two years ago we played the quarter-finals, this year the semi-finals, so even with a young team we can go very far in this competition and we have the quality to play big teams."

Arsenal were caught cold in their Champions League Group H opener when Standard Liege raced into a 2-0 lead inside five minutes.

However, Arsene Wenger's men fought back in Belgium to secure a morale-boosting victory.

Sagna revealed the players are determined not to let the same slow start prove costly once again.

"I hope everyone is ready now to give 100% on the pitch including the forwards because they are the first to defend," said Sagna.

"Everyone knows we have to be more powerful in defence to be good in attack.

"We have a good team and everyone is able to in this team to play good football and we show it."

Brazil legend Zico is a big fan of Wenger, but maintains his Olympiacos side must be brave in their Champions League clash with Arsenal.

The 56-year-old, who played in three World Cup finals between 1978 and 1986, knows the French coach well from their time in Japan, where Wenger was boss of Nagoya Grampus Eight before joining the Gunners.

"I admire and I like the way his teams play, the offensive way he makes his teams play, the offensive mentality," Zico said.

"I follow his career here at Arsenal and I like the way he always makes the most of the players he has.

"This is how he achieved the great success of his life."

Zico, who also managed the Japan national team as well as Fenerbahce, was appointed just hours before Olympiacos' Champions League opener against AZ Alkmaar following the dismissal of Temuri Ketsbaia.

And he believes his men can rise to the challenge facing them on Tuesday night.

"To be successful against Arsenal it is very important that we pay them the utmost attention, that we leave no space for them," he said.

"They are a very fast team, especially when they attack, especially in the follow-up and we have to concentrate.

"We cannot be fearful and we have to play in a brave way.

"We have to have the mentality that we are equal to any team and on the field it's 11 players versus 11 players and this is the mentality I want."