Ambitious Sevilla set sights on leaders Arsenal

MADRID, Nov 8 (Reuters) Sevilla were setting their sights on Arsenal for a shot at the leadership of Champions League Group H after the Spanish side comfortably saw off Steaua Bucharest 2-0 away.

The UEFA Cup holders closed to within a point of Arsene Wenger's side, who drew 0-0 at Slavia Prague, and have home advantage over the Londoners in their next game later this month.

Arsenal inflicted a convincing 3-0 defeat on Sevilla in England in their opening game of the group stage in September.

''We are going to play to the very end and try to finish top.

We'll have to see what happens in Prague (in the last game) and if we win there we could take first place,'' said Serbian defender Ivica Dragutinovic yesterday.

''But it all depends on us beating Arsenal before then.

Everything depends on this game.'' Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez backed his player's assertions: ''We have to dream. We can aspire to everything, without under-estimating anyone and without being overconfident.

''The Arsenal game will be very exciting for the fans, great to compete in for the players, and for me will be a true Champions League encounter. You have to dream, you have to want to improve and you have to be ambitious.'' It was a call to arms from the former B team coach, who was promoted to replace Juande Ramos two weeks ago, after leading the team in his first European outing.

The Andalucians were rarely troubled by the Romanian side and a goal in each half from Brazilian midfielder Renato completed a relatively straightforward evening's work.

''Renato has a good eye for goal. We put in Renato instead of Luis Fabiano sacrificing a reference up front, but we won possession in midfield and with our quick wingers we were able to cause them problems,'' Jimenez said.

''We can never sit back in games because we have offensive players. For this reason we pushed up without sacrificing any equilibrium in defence. In truth, everything went to plan.'' Second-placed Sevilla host Arsenal in the Sanchez Pizjuan on Novmber 27.

Reuters TB DB1835