Vermaelen wants to repay Wenger's faith
Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen is eager to repay the faith manager Arsene Wenger has shown in his team and is confident his side can beat Bayern Munich.
By FOX SPORTS Staff
Vermaelen knows the Gunners face an uphill battle to keep their dream of winning the Champions League alive after they lost to Bayern 3-1 at home in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
With the Gunners not expected to overcome a rampant Bayern side in the second leg on Wednesday, Arsenal's infamous eight year trophy drought looks set to continue, and Wenger has been roundly criticised by fans and pundits alike for failing to build a team capable of challenging for honours.
However, Vermaelen is confident his side can still fight back to progress into the quarter-finals of the Champions League and claims the whole team needs to justify Wenger's belief in them with a fantastic performance at the Allianz Arena.
"Yes, of course, [we owe the manager a performance]," Vermaelen was quoted as saying by the official Arsenal website.
"He has worked for a long time at this Club and he's done a lot for it. We want to give him something back because he gives us confidence and belief.
"As a defender, you always take criticism personally but we are just here to go again.
"We come into this game to win and get through. Last season against Milan, we almost did it when most people thought it was impossible.
"A lot of players know that and they all believe we can win.
"In football, anything can happen. Of course it will be difficult, but we believe in it.
"Football is a strange sport, so we will go for it."
Arsenal will be without talismanic midfielder Jack Wilshere for the crucial clash with Bayern, but left-back Kieran Gibbs could make a return to the team after recovering from a thigh strain a month ago.