Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has insisted he's targeting a win in their Champions League clash with Ludogorets on Tuesday night in order to give his side the best possible chance of topping their qualifying group.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, as reported by theIndependent, Wenger outlined the importance of finishing in top spot because it'll likely mean a more favourable draw for the next round of the competition. Arsenal know all too well of the pitfalls of not finishing top, having been handed a number of tough last 16 draws in the past.
Arsene Wenger reveals his 'prime target' in the Champions League https://t.co/AsaaZGTAsx pic.twitter.com/ykPAWCJa2j
The club haven't made it past the last 16 since the 2009/10 season, and Wenger admitted the best chance of ending that streak is to win their current group ahead of French champions Paris Saint Germain - who are still to visit the Emirates Stadium this season.
He said:"It's our prime target.(We take it) step by step: qualify first. We have played Paris Saint-Germain away, and play them at home to come. We have a good opportunity if we win.
"It is an advantage because you play the second game in the last 16 at home, so you know exactly what you have to achieve at home. You have the support.
"If it goes to extra-time or penalties, you play at home. So it's a little advantage. But if you can finish first, why finish second?We have paid the price many times when we've finished second, having to play Barcelona or Bayern Munich. So we think it's important."
Nacho Monreal, Hector Bellerin, Santi Cazorla and Theo Walcott have all been left at home for the Ludogorets fixturedue to minor injuries, though the likes of Olivier Giroud, Aaron Ramsey and Gabriel could come in to the fold.
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