DEIN EYES EUROPEAN GLORY
Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein declared the Gunners have every intention to "go one better this season" and win the Champions League.Dynamo Zagreb look the likely opponents for Arsene Wenger's men in their two-legged qualifying tie next month, with the Croatian side leading Lithuanian outfit Ekranas 4-1 on aggregate.
The Gunners were beaten by Barcelona in Paris at the end of last season, despite an heroic effort after goalkeeper Jens Lehmann had been sent off early on.
And although their safe passage back into the lucrative group stages of Europe's elite club competition is not yet assured, Dein sees plenty of reasons to be positive.
"We went further than anyone expected last season - but the objective is to win it and we will be trying very hard to do that this season," he said.
"After last season's great performance of getting into the Champions League final the objective is to go one better this season and win it."
The Gunners will play their first leg away on August 8 or 9 and then, as one of the seeded teams, have home advantage for the return at the new Emirates Stadium on August 22 or 23.
Midfielder Freddie Ljungberg is struggling to be fit for the start of the new Premiership season, against Aston Villa on August 19, and so is therefore a major doubt for the Champions League qualifier.
With so many players having been away with their countries in Germany this summer, there is no doubt Wenger could have done without such an important game so early on.
Dein told the club's official website, www.arsenal.com: "Some players who played in the latter stages of the World Cup will only just be coming back to pre-season training, that is something Arsene Wenger will have to deal with in due course - but it is right on top of us already.
"We have never been in the qualifying rounds under Arsene, we have always gone into the group stages.
"It is important for us to get through these games to get in there again."
Dein was in Switzerland for Friday's draw, but was unable to escape the continued speculation over the future of Ashley Cole.
It now seems the England full-back, valued at around ?0million, is unlikely to remain at Arsenal after criticising the way the club dealt with the tapping-up scandal which enveloped the Gunners and Chelsea last year.
Dein revealed his club have had "a couple of very civilised conversations" with the Barclays Premiership champions over the highly-rated defender.
However, the Gunners vice-chairman insisted: "As we speak he is our player and unless something changes he will remain our player.
"There have been certain discussions going on, but there is not much more I can say at this stage."
Wenger has admitted he cannot guarantee Cole will still be with Arsenal when the transfer window closes at the end of August.
Dein maintained: "We are not resigned to losing him - only if an offer is suitable we want to accept.":icon101::icon101::icon101:
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