Arsenal squad in high spirits as Alexis Sanchez and Co jet off to France ahead of Champions League clash against Monaco

• e-mail

Arsenal may be facing a 3-1 aggregate deficit ahead of their Champions League clash against Monaco, but Arsene Wenger's squad looked in high spirits as they jetted off to France on Monday afternoon.

Alexis Sanchez and Co left Luton airport following a morning training session ahead of Tuesday night's last 16 tie as they look to overturn Monaco's 3-1 win at the Emirates last month.

Per Mertesacker, Olivier Giroud and Francis Coquelin were all smiles despite the daunting task facing the Gunners, who will need to score at least three goals at the Stade Louis II.

Olivier Giroud (left) and Mathieu Flamini prepare to board Arsenal's flight to France on Monday afternoon

Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez poses for the cameras before boarding the flight from Luton airport

Francis Coquelin (left) and Per Mertesacker seemed in a relaxed mood ahead of the trip to Monaco

Monaco may have one of the best defensive records in Europe, but Wenger believes Arsenal can produce an unlikely result against the club he guided to the French title 27 years ago.

'We have to put it right. Sometimes in life, you make a big mistake, and there is no comeback, no way you get the chance to put it right again. 

'In football, you can do it, so let's just give everything to do it,' said Wenger, whose side beat West Ham 3-0 on Saturday to cement their place in the top four of the Barclays Premier League.

'We know that (in the first leg) we were impatient and threw ourselves forward too much, that we lost our patience and composure.

'We wanted too much to make a difference in the first game and forgot our basics, that means to defend well and attack well. We just focussed on attacking well, but because a goal didn't go in we opened ourselves up.'

Wojciech Szczesny (centre) may have to settled for a place on the bench on Tuesday night

David Ospina (left) and Nacho Monreal will be hoping Arsenal can pull off a memorable victory in France

Mesut Ozil (right) believes it's 'very important' that Arsenal score an early goal against Monaco

Arsenal players look determined as they put in a final training session at London Colney

Gunners midfielder Mesut Ozil also insisted that his side can progress into the Champions League quarter-finals, but the German believes Arsenal must score early to do so. 

Speaking to the club's official website, Ozil said: 'It's very important to score early, but we will remain patient. We want to fight and battle from the first minute until the last.

'This is a match that we are determined to win. We have to score three goals and our aim is to do just that while remaining tight in defence.

'If we play as we are capable of doing in Monaco, I still believe that we have a real chance to progress. 

(L-R) Gabriel Paulista, Tomas Rosicky, Mertesacker, Santi Cazorla, Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil pose for a picture

Arsene Wenger (centre) reads through his team tactics that require they score at least three goals

All of Arsenal's stars will have to shine if they are to reverse the 3-1 deficit to reach the Champions League quarter-finals