MESUT OZIL says Arsenal will not fear Barcelona’s prolific front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar in the Champions League last 16.
Arsenal paid the price in the draw after they finished second to Bayern Munich in Group F.
The Gunners now face holders Barca for the third time in six years, having been knocked out by the Catalan giants on the previous two occasions.
Messi, Neymar and Suarez have scored 52 goals between them in all competitions this term, and Ozil is looking forward to the challenge of facing them in February and March.
“Barcelona are the hardest team in the world to play against,” Ozil told The Times. “Barcelona are the best team at the moment in the world. We know that.
“But as a player I look forward to encounters like this. For me it is important to have these big games, it’s nice to play against the best teams; to compete with them is a big opportunity for us.
“We respect Barcelona but they will respect us too. We are not afraid of Barcelona.
“We just need to play our game and we can beat them. There is no fear. In football everything’s possible.
“It is a tough match but I don’t think our defenders were afraid after the draw. It’s a big opportunity for them to prove themselves against the best attack in the world, players like Suarez, Messi, Neymar.
“It will be an exciting game, with the possibility of lots of goals, but it’s not like we are afraid.”
source:express.co.uk
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 