Dimitar Berbatov will use all his insider knowledge to help his Monaco team-mates “do their homework” on Arsenal and help his unfancied team reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Monaco, who visit the Emirates Stadium for the last-16 first leg on Wednesday, were viewed as one of the weaker seeds, having scored only four goals during the group stages as they edged through ahead of Bayer Leverkusen.
Arsène Wenger claims the tie against his old club is very much 50-50, despite Arsenal’s good form.
Berbatov knows Arsenal well from his time in the Premier League with Tottenham, Manchester United and Fulham. The 34-year-old striker, who left to join Monaco in January 2014, understands the challenge that awaits the Ligue 1 side but is confident they can progress.
“We know it is going to be a difficult game and we will be the underdogs but we came for a good result, have prepared well and hopefully we can achieve it,” said Berbatov, who played against Arsenal in seven north-London derbies for Spurs between 2006 and 2008 as well as scoring a double for Fulham in the 3-3 draw at the Emirates Stadium in November 2012.
“I spent a couple of years here and have told my team-mates this will be a tough game. Being back here is great for me, playing in this stadium. I have had some good moments here, scored a couple of goals and also had some bad moments. It is nothing new to me. I know the games, I watch them on TV, Arsenal are playing very well.
“They are a team who work a lot of passes, try to play the combinations, football the way it should be played. They play on the counter with quick players and are very technical.
“Maybe this will be new for some of my team-mates but I have explained to them that it will be difficult, so they need to do their homework and our coach will prepare us for the game. Hopefully we can do what we came here to do.”
Berbatov has scored seven goals for Monaco this season and feels settled in the principality. “I don’t think [that I have changed my game] otherwise it is not going to be me,” he said. “I play the way I play. You probably know I have never been the quickest player around but always try to be quick in my mind.
“When you get a bit older you gain more experience and you try to put it to good use, to help yourself in different ways and also the young players.
“My job is to help my team-mates and my team, with my goals, my assists and advice to the young players because in our team we have a lot, and they have a great future ahead of them.”