Arsene Wenger: Arsenal's lack of European joy compared to Barcelona due to 'money' worries

ARSENE WENGER claims it is "money" but Barcelona's players will see the true difference between them and Arsenal within seconds of stepping off the coach tonight.

Arsenal European GloryGETTY

Barcelona are huge favourites to see off Arsene Wenger's Arsenal across their two-legged tie

A giant framed photo adorns the atrium of the players' entrance. It is of Arsenal's players lined up ahead of the 2006 Champions League final match. Arsenal choose to celebrate simply taking part; Barcelona actually won the match.

We know the five-time European champions are the real deal but surely Arsenal are not such desperate wannabes that they'd embellish their own CV? Sadly, the signs are there.

Hanging above the corridor, in fact - lists of the club's achievements. "League Champions... FA Cup winners... League Cup winners... European cup winners..." "European Cup winners"?

When? The small print below explains the somewhat unconventional billing they are giving their 1970 Fairs Cup and 1994 Cup Winners' Cup triumphs.

Yet, as the picture showed, in 2006 the two clubs did stand shoulder-to-shoulder. Both were in fact looking for their first Champions League success that night in Paris. Over the previous 10 seasons, Arsenal had actually claimed a greater haul of domestic honours.

Scoring, winning, it all comes naturally too them. Wenger has just one player of that calibre at his disposal, former Barcelona star Alexis Sanchez.

However, while Enrique is casting spells, the Arsenal manager will be muttering an incantation or two of his own.

"Alexis will be fired up, but that doesn't mean he will be in the right zone," said Wenger. "Sometimes when you are too focused - when you play against your former club - you are not in the zone where everything looks easy. So I will have a little word, yes." While Enrique wants sparks to fly, Wenger will preach keeping a lid on things.

Never mind those subliminal messages outside the dressing rooms. Maybe the real problem is the mixed ones emanating from inside. These next two legs will tell.

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