Wenger sees his faith repaid March 11 2008
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hailed the performance of his young side after they dumped holders AC Milan out to reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
It was a near-perfect, battling display from the Gunners - who closed the Italians down at every chance and capped a magnificent effort when Cesc Fabregas thundered in a 25-yard effort with just six minutes left at the San Siro.
A second from Emmanuel Adebayor in stoppage time sealed a famous win - the first time an English team have beaten Milan at this ground.
"I am very proud of our performance tonight," said Wenger. "I have big respect for Milan, but my team deserves a lot of credit - having come here and beaten a team like them.
"We have given the performance we wanted. We played with organisation and never dropped off.
"We did not give them time and went forward every time we could. We played with authority, maturity, talent and intelligence.
"We have knocked out the holders. This team is very young. But we have won at Bernabeu and San Siro, so you need some quality to do that."
Wenger's troops have been through a lot in recent weeks, having crashed out of the FA Cup at Manchester United and then lost striker Eduardo da Silva to a broken leg.
"The players grow. I feel tonight they deserve a lot of credit, because our confidence level in the camp has dropped a bit," the Frenchman reflected.
"We have not been in the most positive environment recently, from the media. But I like the fact the team finds the mental strength to play without restriction."
Arsenal have a one-point lead at the top of the Premier League to protect, and this season could just turn out to be a vintage one for Wenger's latest charges.
"Sometimes as manager, you feel there is something in the team and you know that for them to get a step higher up they have to deliver in a big game like tonight," he said.
"I hope this will strengthen the belief in the team. Now we have to keep a good balance between belief and humility - that is a very important quality as well, because it allows a team to be consistent."
Wenger is confident his youngsters have what it takes to go all the way to Moscow - but knows it will not be an easy path for the 2006 finalists.
"The competition is very hard now. It is a cup competition, and you have to take it like that. We will go for it - we are in the quarter-final, so why should we not believe we can do it.
"This game was of huge significance for my team - because in between they did not deliver a convincing result.
"Subconsciously for the team, it was very important to see how good they are."
Rossoneri coach Carlo Ancelotti accepted the English giants deserved their place in the last eight.
He said: "Arsenal are a strong team and played with great courage.
"Arsenal managed the ball better and put a lot of pressure on our midfield and did not allow us to play as we wanted.
"I think Arsenal have shown they have the qualities to reach the final of the Champions League."
Ancelotti conceded his team were shackled by the Gunners.
"We had only a few occasions to express ourselves," he said. "We are very regretful at the result. We did our best.
"Now our aim is the fourth place in the Italian league, and we will do our best to reach this."
As for his own future, Ancelotti has no thoughts of either resignation of the prospect of dismissal - despite now facing a battle to qualify again for Europe's elite club competition.
"We have won so much lately, so one lost game is nothing if you think about what we have done," the Italian said. "So we will all continue to pursue our goals."