Tonight’s game will be a war of attrition, but a beautiful one. Arsenal have the stronger defence, Barcelona have the strongest midfield and attacking trio – but that is only because they have Lionel Messi.
I have been accused of having a lack of respect for Barcelona, and that is true, I have no respect for them at all. I have no time for cheats and disrespect, nor a lack of respect for anyone who is placed more than ten yards from Camp Nou. Its a shame that Pep is their manager, as he has all the respect and class that Barcelona lack.
They are a brilliant goalscoring team but I am just fed up of them, I’m fed up of everybody idolising them. In this country there is an idea that any club from abroad is better than what we have here, and believe me I am no ringing endorser of the Premier League. Barcelona are held in very high regard here, seen as the best in the world and probably unbeatable. That is so, so wrong.
When we went to Madrid and were predicted to lose 7-0 without most of our defence we beat them and became the first British team to win there.
We were expected to go out at the hands of AC Milan at the San Sir0 – no English team had even won there before – we beat them 2-0.
We were massively underestimated and we are being underestimated now.
For the first few minutes I’d love to see us get right into Barcelona. I don’t mean kick them around or anything, but just make our presence felt and remind them that they are playing a proper team, get Theo one on one with Maxwell as soon as possible. Don’t get them worried by kicking them in the nuts, get them worried footballistically, as Wenger would say, show them our class.
We are more than capable of winning this game, you get the feeling the team want some form of revenge for last season. It was like being in year seven and playing a bunch of year elevens. They were outclassed and depleted, this time we are strong and as Wenger said in his press conference, the players know they can win tonight and that makes such a big difference.
This is going to be a proper glamour game, not the type that SKY hype up and it ends up in a 0-0, you just know that if if finished goal-less it would still have been a beautiful game.
Yes, tonight we are up against Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro and Villa – but they are up against van Persie, Theo Walcott, Samir Nasri, Andrey Arshavin, Alex Song and the one they want… Cesc Fabregas. He was annoyed that Barca didn’t show how much they want him.
Tonight he will show them why they should have tried harder to buy him.
…and why Arsenal would have said no anyway.
Arsenal News 24/7
“Barcelona have the strongest midfield and attacking trio – but that is only because they have Lionel Messi.”
What about Villa one of the best strikers in Europe and the highly underestimated Pedro….
I dont think that barca have underestimated Arsenal as that would be a huge mistake, pep, pedro, messi, abidal (to name a few) have publicly come out to say how tonights match will be a tough match and that the outcome is far from over on the 1st leg….
Good Joke,,, GoodLuck Man… hope u post another page after the game
Agree with you completely. The media base their cry of “humiliation for Arsenal” based on the less than half strength team we played at Camp Nou (see blog).
No reason why Theo and Arshavin cant roast their full backs when they attack and RvP is in explosive form right now.
COYG!!!
YES! A GOOD POSITIVE ARTICLE!
Sure they’ve got credentials – but here are ours!!!!
Our team tonight is made up of:
*A world cup finalist and highest scorer in 2011 – the in-form striker of the Premiership
*A world cup winner, European champ winner and PFA young player of the year
*The Premier League player of the year so far and front runner for PFA player of the year
*The fastest player in the Premier league (and Europe probably) – and the youngest England cap
*A player Capello described as the future of England
*One of the best defensive midfielders in Europe right now
*An invincible – and left back of the year in ’08-09
*Two of the premiership’s best and consistent young central defenders this season
*The man who won the free kick against Barca in the final
*One of the best young ‘keepers in Europe
YES! COME ON ARSENAL!!! MAKE US PROUD!!!
I believe this time things could and will be different. We have a fully fit team. Although there is no vermallen,we have at least Djourou who has proved himself.
Admittedly his french partner may not be quality but at least we do not have the crocks last time.
Btw I expect the referee to be more impartial than the epl.I expect Barton type tackles to be severely dealt with. Had the English ref taken action with the illegal tackles,believe me,Arsenal could have been the first team to score ten goals in an epl match. Then the media won’t be harpingg on the greatest come back with the ref’s help of course.
I share your school of thought. I am sick and tired of people worshiping Barca. Yes, I agree, they are one of the best teams in the world, if not the best, but they are far from unbeatable.
One point which has highly been discounted by the media, as they the 6-3 aggregate score in our faces, is the fact that Barca will be up against a completely different Arsenal team tonight.
Only 4 players (Fab, Song, Nasri/Arshavin, Clichy) who started the 2-2 draw are going to start tonight’s game (Note: Arshavin got subbed before HT; Gallas got injured at HT, with Song taking up his position; Fab broke his leg at FT).
In the 4-1 loss, only 1 or 2 players (Clichy and Nasri -if he starts tonight) who started that night, will be in tonight’s line up. Not to take anything away from Messi’s 4-goal salvo, but I would fancy RVP to score 4 or more against a defence with Mikel Silvestre in a home tie.
Inspite of Barca facing a depleted Arsenal squad in the 1st leg, they were unable to hold onto a 2 goal lead, something Arsenal have been crucified for doing in games we have completely dominated and ended up with a point or less in the league over the last two seasons(eg. West Ham, Birmingham, Wigan etc etc). Well, I guess if you are Barca, then there is no problem doing that.
For those of you who are still looking into the clouds as they say their prayers to the gods of Barcelona, please note that THIS IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ARSENAL TEAM. Not only are we in good form collectively, but we have our best players fit and firing. As Arsene rightly points out, Barca will be up against the REAL Arsenal tonight. If they are able to produce anything close to the first 30 mins of the 2-2 draw, I will give them their due respect (but I can’t honestly see them dominating us tonight. I maybe wrong, but I doubt it).
i wish i thought that any of this was true. arsenal beating barcelona is as likely as ipswitch beating arsenal. not impossible but extremely unlikey in one leg let alone over two. to stand a chance at the nou camp we would need to be three up. i know we drew 2-2 in the first leg last time but goodness only knows how! we were totally and utterly outplayed in every area of the pitch. almunia chose that occasion for his one brilliant performance otherwise it would have been even more embarrassing than it was.
we are better than last year in defence but still can’t be certain of holding out against newcastle! we are better going forward but those guys aren’t going to see the ball tonight
prediction: 0-3 or 0-4.
sorry but remember this when we are 2 down in first 15 minutes and can focus on the league. i have brought in extra alcohol
Absolutely spot on! Last year we were as good as idle for a home half, we lacked our first team, especially so at Camp Nou, and yet we were up 3-2 on an away goal (a goal which caused me to actually make contact with the ceiling by my head!)! I’d have to say our team now, well but for Sagna’s suspension, would be nearly 200% of the team that was ahead last year. This year Barca are sure to look back at last year and think of us as the same team. Boy are they in for a surprise! Are some damaged ego’s in the works?
WHAT!!?? Barcelona are one of the classiest teams around… They don’t cheat and dive more or less than any other team.
Did you not watch Barca madrid game? Madrid resorted to kicking them at the end (Ramos) and Barca did not retaliate one bit.
A very classy and humble outfit.
Also they are the best team in World football by a long shot. and I mean a very long way. Some of the things they produce is unreal.
Now, since when have people in england assumed that whats out there in europe is better than what we have here?
Wasnt rooney labelled as the best player in the world this time last year when he isnt even in the worlds top 5!? Don’t they remember when ronaldo was at united and how much better than rooney HE was!? Wasnt rio ferdinand labelled as the worlds best defender, when he cant even defend!? How can you be the worlds best defender when Nemanja Vidic is better than you!?
Don’t they say that the premier league is the best league in the world? Gerrard is the best midfielder in the world? Absolute madness! And finally, where do they get the idea that a team, barring winning in their own country in ’66, and has never been passed the semi finals, is going to win the world cup.
I am an arsenal fan, and I dont think the gap between us and them is that big, but there it really is Barca 1st to 6th, then its the rest.
We definitely have more than a chance, Sagna and Vermaelen would have been useful but we have good enough depth to the squad. Not forgetting we lost 4-1 with a team lacking the likes of Alex Song, Robin van Persie, William Gallas, Andrei Arshavin, Cesc Fabregas…and Jack Wilshere! Can’t wait for kick-off! Need a loud reception from the crowd and massive backing…YEAH!
“Arsenal have the stronger defence”
on what grounds? Because Puyol is out? I still don’t see it, everyone talks about Arsenal’s terrible back line and goalkeeper.
And when you talk about all the injuries you had in last years series don’t forget the injuries Barca had. I think we started with Marquez and Milito in our back line in the 4-1. Wow.
@n7Gooner
*A world cup finalist and highest scorer in 2011 – the in-form striker of the Premiership
We have what, 7 world cup winning STARTERS? In form striker? Hm.. Messi, Villa and Pedro have more goals than most TEAMS.
*A world cup winner, European champ winner and PFA young player of the year
We have several world cup winners, the team won the european championship, and PFA YPOTY? How about 2 Ballons d’or..
*The Premier League player of the year so far and front runner for PFA player of the year
same.
*The fastest player in the Premier league (and Europe probably) – and the youngest England cap
Walcott shouldn’t start though, his skills would be best utilized in the final 20-40 minutes.
*A player Capello described as the future of England
lol future of england
*One of the best defensive midfielders in Europe right now
who? no its barca who have busquets…
*An invincible – and left back of the year in ’08-09
glichy? wasn’t he like 18 and barely played?
*Two of the premiership’s best and consistent young central defenders this season
I actually have no clue who this is referring to
*The man who won the free kick against Barca in the final
dont remember
*One of the best young ‘keepers in Europe
okay seriously. lol.
Im anticipating a win for the gunners, based on a point to be proven.
We froze last year at the emirates, with some players publicly stating they gave barca too much respect. When walcott came on he had a point to prove himself and tore into barca. Im hoping that many of our players will have that desire to show barca what they’re made of. The match at the camp wasnt of any relevance since so many key players were missing.
I also believe we will see another top performance from jack wilshire, he’s getting better game by game
I hate the way Barca are loved, any time an arsenal player attempts to tackle them tonight they will jump on the floor as if to say “how dare you touch me” the respect they get off referees is ridiculous.
But to prove how good we are we must go and beat them, we have our strongest team barring TVermealan, so no excuses, the spuds went to milan last night and won without Bale and a half fit Modric and VDV, they upped there gameand now we can, they cant defend nor can we so lets make it an attacking physical game and we will do them
Never mind all the talk it,s time to show the Arsenal fans the real Arsenal football club ,talking won,t get the desired result,rather 100% concentration from all the Arsenal players on the pitch and at the Emirates ,up the Gunners .
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I like the fact nobody is giving us a chance of winning this tie, Barcelona are a great team but come on, Its 180minutes with 11v11, This is not mission impossible, Its a game of football and we are one of the best teams in the world. Their not playing a league 2 team, Their playing THE ARSENAL.Come on you GUNNERS
Josep,
Do you just soak up the drivel of the mainstream press, accepting all of it as fact without question? Sections of the press love to talk up a keeper’s error when it’s an Arsenal keeper, and yes there have been shaky defensive moments this season (like every other team). The fact is that Arsenal’s current first choice centre back pairing is the tightest in the league, conceding fewer goals than any other pairing. Johan Djourou is also on a 27 game unbeaten run in the league, the longest of any defender.
No-one’s denying that a similar list of ‘accolades’ for Barca wouldn’t be more impressive. But that’s not the point.
The rest of your ‘review’ of N7 Gooner’s team run-down betrays some serious ignorance, wilful perhaps, but ignorance nonetheless.
If you don’t know who Jack Wilshere is then I’m not sure what you’re doing watching football.
Do you know what ‘one of the best’ means? Busquets vs Song, you can certainly have a discussion, but Busquets the best DM in Europe? Hilarious.
Seems you know little/nothing about keepers either, and the reputation our current No.1 has. Look it up, and maybe learn something, before coming and sharting your ill-conceived myopic views on this wonderful blog.
do you ever have a day off from talking rubbish.
geez, I get called ignorant but all the comments above get regarded as brilliance?
I very well know who Wilshere is have for years. I was mostly making lolargument because his was a joke. I just joked about the future of England as if it was such a great title to have..
And what press do I read? The ones that say how bad Eric Abidal is? Everytime I watch Arsenal play, while limited number of matches, Song is terrible. He’s no where near best DM in Europe and for you to say Biscuits not being close is the point that is hilarious. What Busquets means to the system, and how he plays, and all the other factors we could discuss he’s certainly up there.
I didn’t know that about Jorou, who I believe has been in your reserves for a while no? Impressive.. we have Busquets and Puyol who are on similar unbeaten runs.
Your keeper, I’ve seen him I believe twice and his debut was against United. Isn’t this his Champions’ League debut? Don’t you think he’ll be a bit nervy today? or a very young Wilshere in such a big tie?
So there goes your answer Josep!… or are you Guardiola in disguise?…lmaooo
Now instead of lauding my team’s performance I’d get to hear how they’ll be slaughtered at the Camp Nou…. after all the arsenal deprecation before the match I guess we deserve some weeny little tiny credit!
From all our matches against Barca, there’s now one very apparent flaw – Foreign teams can’t match the resilience and persistence of the English teams in the final third because they get so worn out by then!
I wouldn’t start Walcott at the Camp Nou, though…I’d rather have him brought on in the last 20-25mins to actually WIN the game!