Champions League: Arsenal wary of CSKA Moscow

Arsenal isn't underestimating CSKA Moscow this time.

Photo: Champions League: Arsenal wary of CSKA Moscow

Champions League: Arsenal wary of CSKA Moscow

Two weeks ago, CSKA beat the Gunners 1-0 in freezing Moscow to end Arsenal's perfect start in the Champions League group stage and take the lead in Group G. The two sides meet again Wednesday in London.

"I was very confident going to Moscow," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "Overall as a team, we were too confident to go there and take the points. It was not a reality check, it was an arrogant way of not being urgent."

CSKA midfielder Daniel Carvalho, who scored the winner in Moscow, said his team had proven that it can compete at the top level.

"I think Arsenal respect us more than before and a draw would be fantastic," he said. "But another victory could mean a spot in the last 16. And now we know we can beat Arsenal, we are much more confident."

Arsenal's missed opportunities in Moscow and in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Everton in the Premier League is unlikely to alter the flowing, passing style that the Gunners are known for. Striker Thierry Henry said he would never want to play with a "shoot-on-sight" attitude.

"I will die playing this sort of football, no question," Henry said Saturday.

Wenger wants to give 19-year-old midfielder Cesc Fabregas a rest but says he's too important to the team. Fabregas has played in all but one of Arsenal's 14 matches this season, reports AP.

"I want to protect Cesc by not playing him too much," Wenger said. "But it's extremely difficult at the moment, if not impossible, to leave him out."

No team in Group G can advance to the round of 16 after Wednesday's matches. CSKA has seven points, followed by Arsenal's six, FC Porto's four and Hamburg's zero. Hamburg will be out of the running it loses against Porto.