Sunday, 18th November, 2012
Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has told his team-mates they will need to be wary of French side Montpellier and be on the top of their game on Wednesday.
The Gunners play the Ligue 1 champions in Champions League action and, having taken just one point from their last two group games, need to put Montpellier to the sword at the Emirates Stadium.
Only two victories from their final two group matches, against Montpellier and Olympiacos, will absolutely guarantee that Arsene Wenger’s men progress into the Round of 16 regardless of other results.
Schalke, who sit top, could do Arsenal a favour by beating Olympiacos in the evening’s other match, but only if the Gunners hold up their side of the bargain and take three points would qualification be secured on Wednesday.
However, Arsenal cannot count on that and will still have their eyes on securing top spot in the group.
"When we played them [in France] we were under pressure for periods of the game, and we did well to get a result", Ramsey reflected to his club’s official site upon Arsenal’s 2-1 victory against Montpellier earlier in the group.
"They have competed against every team [in the group] and shown that they can create and can be a threat, so they will be no pushover", continued the midfielder.
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"They will want to prove something as well. We have to be aware of that, and be on top of our game on the day.
"The group is pretty tight, so I think you can say we have to win that game. We are at home, so hopefully we can do that and put ourselves in a strong position to qualify."
Ramsey also warned against the dangers of finishing second in the group, with a group winner likely to present a tougher challenge in the Round of 16.
"[Finishing second] has been quite costly in the last few years. We finished second in the group a couple of seasons ago and played Barcelona.
"So you know you’re going to have a strong team if you do finish second."
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