Arsenal can wrest European Cup from Real, says Lauren

Arsenal defender Lauren believes that the English premier league side are capable of wresting the European Cup from reigning champions Real Madrid.

"Real may have the best team in the world but that doesn't mean they are unbeatable," the Cameroon international, who joined Arsenal from Spanish club Real Mallorca, told Spanish sports daily Marca.

"The key against a team like Real is to deprive them of the ball for as long as possible, because they suffer when they don't have it."

"Given our pace and if we can control the ball we are capable of beating them."

Lauren added that the presence of so many attack-minded players like Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and Raul make Real vulnerable in defence.

"In my opinion Arsenal are a more solid and balanced team than Real Madrid and that could work to our advantage if we did meet them say in the final."

"We are convinced that this year is going to be our chance to do something big in Europe."

The English side, who did the league and cup double last season, are top of the premier league and lead their Champions League group with three wins from three games.

Real also top their group with seven points from three matches and lie in third place in the Spanish first division.