Arsene Wenger 'more motivated than the day he arrived at Arsenal' as he looks to produce a Nou Camp miracle

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Manager Arsene Wenger offered a passionate defence of his Arsenal record on the eve of the last-16 second leg Champions League clash in Barcelona.

Wenger vowed to stand by his record over 20 years in north London and urged his critics to examine the progress since his arrival in 1996.

'I have no doubt about my huge motivation,' said Wenger. 'I built the club, and the way I did it was with hard work. I had no external resources.

Arsenal's 66-year-old manager Arsene Wenger speaks during a press conference on Tuesday evening

Frenchman Wenger, who has been in charge of his north London club for 20 years, takes his seat

Wenger is looking to overturn a 2-0 deficit to Barcelona, in the Champions League last-16, at the Nou Camp

Wenger: 'I don't question my dedication. It is 100% and I give more time to my club than when I arrived'

'If you compare the club when I arrived and how it is today, it is moved forward, and without any help from anybody.

'I am more motivated than the day I arrived, and I feel even more the pressure and the responsibility to keep this club moving forward.

'When you're a long time somewhere you always question your motivation, but I don't question mine.

'I don't question my dedication. It is 100 per cent and I give more time to my club than when I arrived.'

The 66-year-old Frenchman added: 'We have gone through, recently, a disappointing spell without doubt and it is important to stay calm and strong and I believe, in 200 Champions League games, I know that we have won everywhere in Europe but not here yet.

'We are in a position where we have to achieve that. I am convinced the players have decided to give a strong response tomorrow.'

'I am convinced it would be a big boost for us (for the rest of the season) to have a great game tomorrow.

'We fight, of course, to win trophies and at the moment we are not favourites to deliver that but no matter the Premier League is more open than people think it is, and in the Champions League we have a very small chance. Let's give our best tomorrow. Who knows?'

The veteran Gunners boss is rumoured to be on the verge of quitting the club amid supporter unrest 

Wenger jogs in training on Tuesday as his team prepare for a tough test with Barcelona at the Nou Camp

Wenger has qualified for Europe's elite competition in each of the last 18 years, but never won it

When pressed on the seeming unrest amongst Gunners supporters regarding his management, Wenger replied: 'I don't want to go into that discussion because it can be interpreted both ways.

'I'm honest enough to know one day I will say I did my best and the people around me will witness that.

'Football owes me nothing. I represent Arsenal and we want to come here and give a positive performance. That's what we owe to football and that means playing with passion and commitment.'

Wenger is looking to overturn a 2-0 deficit to Barcelona when he leads his team out at the Nou Camp on Wednesday evening.

Argentine maestro Lionel Messi scored a late brace for Luis Enrique's side at the Emirates Stadium on February 23, to give Barca the advantage in the tie.