Football
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Arsenal can cope with Dinamo Zagreb in Champions League tie - Monreal

Defender Nacho Monreal believes Arsenal have the mental strength needed to come through their opening Champions League test against Dinamo Zagreb's own Invincibles in Croatia.

Dinamo became the first team to go through a Prva Liga campaign unbeaten last season.

Now following Friday night's impressive 4-0 away victory in the derby at Lokomotiva Zagreb, Zoran Mamic's team have not lost in a formidable run of some 41 matches since being defeated by Astra Giurgiu during the group stages of the Europa League in November 2014.

The Croatians have, though, historically come up short in each of the last three European ties against English opposition, and were beaten 5-1 on aggregate by Arsenal in the 2006-07 Champions League third qualifying round, losing 3-0 at home.

Defender Monreal believes Arsene Wenger's side -- who famously won the Premier League without losing a match in 2003-2004 -- need to focus on their own strengths rather than worry about what Dinamo can produce at the 37,000-capacity Maksimir Stadium, a venue where Gunners frontman Theo Walcott scored a hat-trick in England's 4-1 victory over Croatia in September 2008.

"Everywhere you play, the atmosphere is massive, it does not matter if it is Champions League or if it is Premier League," the Spain full-back said.

"Every single game there is a lot of pressure when you play away, but we are used to it and we have the experience to cope with playing in big away matches.

"It is more psychological than it is physical, but we are accustomed to it, so it won't affect us.

"It will be a big test for us, but if we concentrate on our strengths we know we can perform well."

After their Croatia trip, Arsenal face Olympiacos and then a double header with German giants Bayern Munich, who have knocked Wenger's side out of Europe in two of the last three seasons.

Monreal continued: "We want to pass through into the next stage, and we know that the favourite in our group is probably Bayern Munich, so we know we need to do well against Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiacos.

"It will be really positive for us to start with three points on Wednesday in Zagreb, as it will give us a good start and confidence for the rest of the group stage.

"In the Champions League, you don't play too many games, so if you make a mistake you pay for it, as we found out last season against Monaco.

"We just need to be focussed on getting a good start in the competition."

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