Arsenal v Udinese – Preview, Prediction, TV Listings, Betting Odds – Champions League – 16 August 2011

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

“We lost a world-class player and we are sad about that.”

“We fought to keep him but in the end we have to respect the desire of the player as well. This Club is 125 years-old this season and many big players left and yet the Club went on. We want to show that we have the strengths and unity to fight as we ever did at this Club.

“What is important now is to focus on our targets. Life goes on and we want to show we have the needed desire and strength to deal with the situation.

“It was my decision and I submitted that decision to the board and to the chairman.

“Everybody has his opinion but, at the end of the day, you have to make decisions. To get the best out of a player, he needs to be completely committed to where he is and Cesc wanted to go back to his home city.

“But if you understand one thing, it is Cesc did not go for financial reasons, or that he did not love this Club. Cesc went because he was desperate to play for his hometown team, where he was educated. It is very difficult to resist to that.

“But we wish good luck to Cesc, who is a great player, and in my opinion one of the best players in the world.”

“We are not frightened to spend money but we have to be convinced the player is better than what we have.”

“That is our main concern, to bring quality. We have quality, but want to add more quality.

“We will try [to buy] but let’s not forget that we have brought players in. I have Carl Jenkinson, we have bought Gervinho in, we have bought Joel Campbell in, we have brought Ryo Miyaichi in and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. You do not know them very well yet but they are all quality players.”

“I have been in football for a long, long time and I don’t think just spending money is a target that is defendable.”

“To spend the money on a top player is defendable. But just to spend the money is like you are worried.

“Our fans can be proud of the way we run this club, of the quality of player we have and of the financial situation that is existing at the Club. Rather than convicting this club, they have more reason to be proud of the whole situation here.

“We have built a team and a stadium in such a short space of time, and have a strong financial situation – and we always survived at the top level. There are more reasons to be positive than the negatives ones being sold by everybody.”

“In his interview Bendtner said he was gone, but I checked and he’s not gone at all!”

“I promised I would let him go if he found the right club and that has not changed because when I make a promise I keep it.

“But if he doesn’t find the right opportunity he will stay and fight for his place like everybody else. He looks sharp in training.”

Udinese player Samir Handanovic

“I think it’s always better to play the first leg away.

“I’m not afraid of Arsenal, last year in the league we prepared well for games against the big sides and we did well, so you should always be optimistic. I know I am.

“I don’t know how to beat Arsenal, I know they play at a fast pace, but I’m sure we will have our chances.

“We hope to take those chances because it’s important to score away from home.”

“I don’t think about the narrative. Think about that when your career is over because even if we lose we will not do anything that goes down in history.

“We concentrate match-to-match. We’ll think about the significance of the challenge afterwards.”

Arsenal v Udinese Prediction

Arsenal wins 2-1