LONDON: Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal can still salvage their calamitous Champions League campaign as they prepare for Tuesday's do-or-die showdown with Dinamo Zagreb.
Wenger's side are on brink of a stunning failure to make the knockout stages for the first time in 16 years after three defeats from their four Group F fixtures.
The Gunners must beat Croatian side Dinamo at the Emirates Stadium to keep their hopes alive, but even that won't be enough to avoid elimination if second placed Olympiakos, who sit six points ahead of Arsenal, draw or win at Bayern Munich.
Yet if results go Arsenal's way in midweek, they will travel to Olympiakos for their final group match on December 9 knowing a win could send them through depending on the margin of victory.
And Wenger remains convinced Arsenal can find a way to stage one of the great European escape acts.
"We will give absolutely everything to stay in the Champions League," Wenger said.
"I think we still have a strong chance but it will be very tight now.
"Even if we had beaten Bayern, we would be in a position where we have to beat Olympiakos, if we beat Zagreb at home. Unless Olympiakos make a result at Bayern, which is not impossible as well."
While Wenger is optimistic about Arsenal's chances, he acknowledges the north Londoners have only themselves to blame for their precarious predicament.
While a heavy defeat at Bayern in their last European outing could be excused given the quality of the opposition, there was no explaining away lacklustre losses against Dinamo and Olympiakos.
"It is a reality that in two games, against Bayern, we took three points (but) we have created our own problems before that," Wenger said.
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