Arsene Wenger shows no hint of a man ready to quit as defiant Arsenal boss invites his doubters to examine his record

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Not since the comedian Peter Kay devised a singer dressed half as Freddie Mercury and half as Monserrat Caballe for a talent show parody has there been such an ill-conceived assault on Barcelona.

Arsenal arrived in Spain in the rain, on a dreadful run of form, with an injury list achingly long and a fan-base divided, mobilising in protest and squabbling in the streets about the future of their manager.

Awaiting Arsene Wenger and his misfiring team are the European champions with the world's deadliest trio of attackers, attempting to become the first club to defend the Champions League trophy in its modern format.

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

PETER KAY'S ASSAULT ON BARCELONA 

Comedian Peter Kay made his own ill-conceived assault on Barcelona when he devised a bizarre and hilarious character for his talent show parody in 2008.

Peter Kay's Britain's Got the Pop Factor... and Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly on Ice was a two-part comedy shown on Channel 4 which mocked the nation's voracious appetite for reality and celebrity television.

Featuring Kay, Cat Deeley, Nicki Chapman, Pete Waterman and Neil Fox, it told the story of a talent show winner, Geraldine McQueen and her fellow contestants.

It also featured a character dressed half as Freddie Mercury and half as Monserrat Caballe, who sang both parts of the pair's 1988 hit.

The song itself was used as part of the 1992 Olympics Opening Ceremony, in the eponymous city.  

Barcelona are unbeaten in 35 games. The last eight all won in a blaze of 30 goals. Oh, and they are 2-0 up from the first leg.

Arsenal, to reach the last eight, must unleash the sort of hiding they gave Hull's reserves in the FA Cup last week, their only win in the last seven outings.

Strange things happen in football, but seldom this strange.

Those Arsenal supporters climbing off the planes singing: 'We're gonna win 3-0' have not been fooled. This is not Olympiacos and few travelled in anticipation of a miracle.

Wenger gave his team 'a five per cent chance' when he spoke on the eve of the game, but the manager's pre-match defiance went beyond the confines of this tie.

It was a presidential message intended for arch-critics and those lobbying for change at Arsenal after nearly 20 years of rule by the Frenchman.

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

He invited doubters to examine his record, and stressed his desire to continue.

There was no hint of a man ready to quit and he is staunchly backed by the Arsenal board.

'I built the club, and the way I did it was with hard work,' said Wenger. 'I had no external resources. If you compare the club when I arrived and how it is today it has moved forward, and without any help from anybody.'

The 66-year-old will pass a milestone on Wednesday night, with his 200th game in the Champions League and its forerunner, the European Cup.

Only Sir Alex Ferguson has coached in more. And yet the competition has come to define the frustrating second half of Wenger's tenure.

He qualifies for it every year, an achievement he rates highly, and yet will barely leave an impression if this were to be his final appearance.

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

His first game was in Iceland with Monaco, in front of a crowd of 4,000 in 1988. There has been one final, against Barcelona in 2006 but, since then, he has only been past the quarter-finals once.

Arsenal have crashed out at this stage in the last five years and no team has progressed in the Champions League knock-out rounds after losing the first-leg at home by two goals or more.

There have been near-misses, including some by Arsenal, but this is a tall order.

'In 200 games, we have won everywhere in Europe, but not yet here,' said Wenger. 'We have gone through a disappointing spell, without a doubt and it is important to stay calm.

'I am convinced the players will give a strong response and it would give us a big boost to have a great game here.

'The Premier League is more open than people think.'

In the Premier League, Arsenal are 11 points adrift of leaders Leicester with a game in hand but any late charge will require a drastic change in form.

A last-gasp victory against Leicester, last month, ought to have galvanised Wenger's team and launched them towards their first title since 2004 but had the opposite effect.

They have won only four of 14 and, while the manager hopes for a psychological lift in Barcelona, others will fear lasting damage to brittle confidence if they suffer badly at the hands of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar as they chase the game.

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

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

'The advantage in our position is that the task is clear,' said Wenger. 'We need to score two or three goals. We have to attack. That's what we like to do. The magicians of Barcelona will demand the key for us will be a solid defensive performance.'

Barcelona, meanwhile, promised no complacency. Five players expected to start on Wednesday night were excused the 6-0 win against Getafe on Saturday.

They are fresh and confident. 'There will be no change to our approach,' said Luis Enrique. 'These are champions we are talking about. This will not happen. We want to be better than Arsenal. If we can, that will be perfect.'

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