Credit; here
Last season, it killed off challenges on all fronts and injuries sustained affected their title hopes.
Most people would agree that the draw was the worst the Gunners could have hoped for after slipping up away to both Braga and Shakhtar Donetsk in the group stage.
As well as this, Arsenal have been inconsistent in the league, like many other Premier League sides this term.
Barcelona will find out your problems.
I have watched Barcelona a few times lately, although I don't rate some of the teams in La Liga, and if they play as they did against Real Madrid, even in one of the two legs, Arsenal are goners.
I'll start with Barcelona. They are, by a long-shot, the bookies favourites to win the Champions League, and it doesn't take much to realise why.
Lionel Messi alone can win games, as he did against Arsenal in the second leg last time, and has scored 14 goals in his last 8 league appearances; scoring every time.
Messi has really risen to the challenge in a Barcelona shirt.
No Arsenal player can match that.
Add into the frame David Villa, Pedro, Andreas Iniesta and Xavi and you can see Arsenal getting blown away.
However, that didn't happen last season and, although Barca scored 2 away goals, the North Londoners claimed a 2-2 draw at home and led early on in Spain. They will have to have learnt from their mistakes quickly.
You would think that, with all the beautiful attacking football which they play, the Spaniards would leave gaping holes at the back?
They haven't conceded in their last five, and have beaten Real and Sevilla 5-0 in previous weeks.
And then you realise, Arsenal have nothing to lose.
Last season, they were outplayed early on at the Emirates and that's expected with the amount of possession Barca usually rack up, but they still clawed it back to get a 2-2. It was never going to be enough but at least they have the ability to score.
Also, don't forget that Cesc Fabregas was nowhere near full fitness for the Quarter-final tie, and his form, together with Samir Nasri's talent, could be the boost needed.
One thing is for sure, now is the time for Arsenal to produce in the big games, something they haven't done for the last few seasons.
Perhaps it's a welcome relief that the Gunners have two months to prepare for the visit of Pep Guardiola's side, who travel to the Emirates on Wednesay, 16 February, before playing the return leg on Tuesday 8 March.
Arsene Wenger has already said that revenge is not on his mind, but how can it not be after the Spanish Champions obliterated the best footballing team from England.
Robin van Perise was one of the players to speak out on TV after their victory over Partizan Belgrade, saying that he wanted to play Barcelona because they are the best footballing side.
Is this false confidence in a team which has only kept four clean sheets in the league all season?
We will see.
How ironic that Cesc Fabregas didn't move to Barcelona in the summer. Perhaps if his side lose this time, that might be the final straw.
Not only that, but it's unfortunate that Arsenal have to play the home leg first again. That's the first problem with the tactics. Wenger can tell his side to come out, play nice football and try and win, whilst risking a counter-attack away goal, or they can try and sit on 0-0 for as long as possible.
Either way, it's going to be a hard ask getting two results out of Barcelona, unless they start mis-firing.
My worry, for Arsenal, is that, with a tie like this looming on the horizon, it will affect their league form.
The Gunners are now second in the league after losing to Manchester United on Monday and only picked up three points after their Champions League exit last season. Arguably, it cost them the title.
2003/04 was the last time Arsenal won the Premier League. Barcelona have won La Liga 4 times since.
Credit; here
Not to forget that Arsenal, should they defeat Ipswich Town in the next round, could face a Carling Cup final in-between the two fixtures. It could be a long few weeks for Arsenal and Wenger.
If Arsenal fail to win, is that going to be the end of the Frenchman at the Emirates, or can he be given yet another chance to fall to a bigger and better side?
It's sure to be a cracking spectacle, similarly to rivals' Spurs game at AC Milan.
I think we can get a result against barca if all our big guns turn up in both games, were the underdogs but i think we will rise to the challenge.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog by the way , will be keeping a firm eye on this .
Ian