Source: Team_Talk
Krstajic aims for Gunners scalp
Captain Mladen Krstajic insists Partizan Belgrade will be out to make a name for themselves by heaping more misery on Arsenal on Tuesday night.[LNB] The Gunners suffered a shock 3-2 home defeat against West Brom on Saturday as Arsene Wenger's men missed the chance to close the gap on leaders Chelsea, whom they face at Stamford Bridge next weekend.[LNB]Wenger accepts his side had "no electricity" against the Baggies, having at one stage trailed 3-0, and were unrecognisable from the team which smashed six past both Blackpool and Braga as Arsenal opened their Champions League campaign in spectacular fashion.[LNB]Partizan - unbeaten in the Super League last season - may have come through three rounds of qualifying, but the Belgrade side are in good form, with five wins from six to top the table, and boast an impressive home record - led by Brazil-born striker Cleo, who has recently been granted Serbian citizenship so he can play in the Euro 2012 qualifiers.[LNB]Veteran Krstajic, the 36-year-old defender, believes Alexander Stanojevic's well-drilled team - who lost their first Group H fixture 1-0 at Shakhtar Donetsk - can produce a performance tomorrow which would send shockwaves throughout the competition.[LNB]"Against Arsenal, we will need to give even more than we produced against Shakhtar," Krstajic told the UEFA Champions League Magazine Show.[LNB]"We can't afford to let our performance level drop, and I hope we will manage to achieve a result that will announce our name throughout Europe."[LNB]Despite his bravado, Krstajic - who faced Shakhtar wearing a special mask to protect a broken nose - knows Arsenal, missing keeper Manuel Almunia because of an elbow injury as well as the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott, will test Partizan's resolve.[LNB]"It is hard to say who their most dangerous player is," he said.[LNB]"Arsene Wenger has a number of good players around 20 years of age.[LNB]"I don't know what line-up they will put out, but all the players will be tough opponents.[LNB]"We will need total focus to have a chance of getting into the match."[LNB]Krstajic, the former Werder Bremen and Schalke defender, added: "It won't be easy at all, and will be a tactical game.[LNB]"It is not only the four or five players at the back who have to defend - the whole team will have to play as one.[LNB]"Our midfield and our strikers will have to stay focused.[LNB]"We need to keep our minds on the game and, with the support of our fans, we will be able to come away with good memories."[LNB]Stadion FK Partizan is set to be at boiling point come kick off tomorrow night, as 'The Gravediggers' look to be the extra man against an Arsenal team which has not won an away European tie in more than a year.[LNB]"Partizan's fans are always there for the players," said Krstajic, who has supported the Belgrade club since he was a boy.[LNB]"There will be no surprises, they will support us for 90 minutes - they are part of us and we are part of them."[LNB]Defenders Ivan Stevanovic and Marko Jovanovic are available again after being suspended against Shakhtar, however, right-back Alexander Miljkovic has been ruled out after picking up an ankle injury in training.[LNB]Krstajic and star midfielder Radosav Petrovic were both rested in the goalless draw against Spartak Zlatibor Voda on Friday, keeping them fresh for the Gunners.
