We're ready for Partizan test, says Alex Song

Focus: Alex Song
11 April 2012

Alex Song maintains Arsenal are ready for what is set to be a highly-charged Champions League encounter against Partizan Belgrade in Serbia tonight.

The Gunners were shell-shocked by their home Barclays Premier League defeat to West Brom on Saturday, where they had trailed 3-0, and now must look to get their season back on track with a positive result in one of the most intimidating atmospheres in European football.

Partizan may have come through three rounds of qualifying to reach the group stages, but the Belgrade side are in good form, with five wins from six to top their domestic table.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger accepts his men produced an abject display against the Baggies, and knows only 100% focus will get a positive result tonight.

Midfielder Song insists the players are set to deliver.

"Normally we win most games but we have just come here to do our best because we know in the last few days we have not done very well," the Cameroon international said.

"We want to show we are ready."

Stadion FK Partizan will be at boiling point come kick-off, as 'The Gravediggers' look to extend Arsenal's record of failing to win away in the Champions League since last September.

The Serbians, though, have something of a chequered history of crowd trouble and were thrown out of the 2007/08 UEFA Cup for clashes in a qualifying tie against Zrinjski Mostar - while in September last year, a Toulouse fan died in hospital after being injured following violence in a bar ahead of the two sides' Europa League tie.

Indeed, Partizan went as far as issuing a plea for calm on their own website, declaring "this is our chance to wipe out ugly traces of the recent past and we shouldn't miss this opportunity."

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, though, is confident the game can pass without incident.

"We are always inside the stadium, so I do not know what is happening outside, I leave that to UEFA and to the Serbian authorities. I am sure they will do that very well," he said.

"Serbia is a traditional football country and I believe it will be very passionate because they are very passionate football people."

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