Wenger eyeing Serbian success

Arsene Wenger is targeting a first European away win in more than a year when Arsenal travel to Partizan Belgrade on Tuesday night.

The North London giants opened their UEFA Champions League Group H campaign with a 6-0 demolition of Braga while the Serbs lost 1-0 against Shakhtar Donetsk.

But the Gunners go into the clash in Serbia on the back of a shock 3-2 Premier League home defeat to West Brom, although the French tactician is hoping his side will show no effects from the loss.

With a trip to leaders Chelsea next Sunday afternoon in Wenger's mind, both the result and the performance in Belgrade take on an extra significance.

"It is important to get a good result against Partizan Belgrade,"said Wenger, whose team last won a Champions League away fixture at Standard Liege in September 2009.

"First of all, it gives us a good opportunity to qualify if we can then win our home game afterwards.

"As well, it is important before going to Chelsea that we have a good performance."

Song hopeful

Meanwhile, Alex Song believes Arsenal's squad is much stronger this season and can progress even further in Europe.

"We have more people behind the attack now,"he said.

"When we have the ball, we can go forward and help create things, but I think we now have a midfield which can switch over quickly when we lose the ball and look quite solid.

"It is important for the midfield to have that good balance, and I think this shape has started well for us. We are enjoying playing this way.

"We started playing very well and just need to keep working on the way we are set up in training."

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