Do we know too much about tonight’s game?
Or do we know nothing? Will it be close? Will it be cagey? Or will it be end-to-end at times?
Will we see four goals, like the 2-2 last year?
Could Wenger’s in-form team penetrate the high line of the Spanish champions and score three goals?
Maybe.
On Saturday we saw Sporting Gijon’s speedy David Barral break and score in thrilling fashion, turning Pique inside out in the 1-1 draw that ended Barcelona’s historic run of 16 consecutive league victories.
Arsenal v Barcelona, first leg.
Djourou is more dominating now, Walcott is stronger now, Wilshere is compact and effective beyond his tender years, Fabregas is the finest player in the EPL, Szczesny’s the best keeper at the club, Robin van Persie is scoring goals, and Nasri looks like playing because the French boys always play in the big games.
That’s the unwritten clause in their contracts : Join Arsene, play for the 21st club in the French League, and get picked for all the big games. The manager lives for the Champions League and once said he could not imagine retiring without winning it.
Fabregas and Nasri live for the Champions League, Clichy and RVP live for the Champions League, Sagna lives for the Champions League, and Jack Wilshere and Wojciech Szczesny are rookies in the Champions League.
It’s the biggest prize, the most exciting dream, the holy grail of football. If you play in the final you’re a top footballer. If you win it, you’re a legend, a hero who has written himself into history.
The big news is that if Arsenal are good enough to beat Barcelona, they’re good enough to win the Champions League. If they beat Barcelona they can bring the biggest prize in club football to London for the first time by winning it at Wembley.
Can Arselona beat the best team in the world over two legs in the Round of 16?
Myself, I think Wenger’s best bet was to win the Group and hope somebody else could knock Barcelona out. He blew it by not winning a weak group.
How good are Barcelona right now?
For me, far better than they were in 2006 in Paris, where Arsenal might have won 3-1 if Lehmann had not been sent off. Far better than Rome in 2009, when they beat Manchester United 2-0. Samuel Eto’o is better than David Villa but in all other respects Barcelona are stronger now, mainly because of the trophies they’ve won.
But also because Leo Messi is a different animal in 2011.
He’s become an unstoppable genius and a super-prolific goalscorer. He can do preposterous things with a football in almost every game.
Busquets, the youngest player on the pitch in Rome, is now a multiple medalist.
Did you see Revista last night?
CFB’s midfield Napoleon confirmed what I figured out long ago: that Pep Guardiola is the most demanding coach out there.
Balague asked Xavi : How do you achieve such a high level of excellence?
Xavi said, ” Doing things properly with a real attention to the fundamental little details that make all the difference and knowing the reasons why we do things a certain way.
“For instance, knowing why we’re going to play with a line of three and the full backs pushed on because it will give the opposition problems that way. Why are we taking a corner this way. Because that’s where the space is. Everything for a reason.
“Pep has drilled that into us; others may not understand why we’re doing things a certain way. But Pep explains the reasons behind everything and demands we know why we’re doing it.
“On top of that, there’s the talent, the talent and the great people here at Barcelona.”
Xavi said that he thinks Wenger is fantastic and it will be a very competitive game.
He expects “a beautiful clash.”
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PS at 4.50 pm :
After writing the above I had breakfast and went out to buy The Guardian and visit my friend Chris about a little film we want to make. I have not looked at the newspaper at all today, not even the sports section.
Then I worked on the film until now and then I read ANR Comment emails. One reminds me that Sagna is suspended !!!!
The thought of Eboue v Pedro or David Villa gives me nightmares, so I’m glad I didn’t know about that sooner.
Another reader asks if I know why Barcelona trained at Loftus Road last night, not the Emirates. Beats me. Maybe try out some free-kicks? Didn’t want Arsenal to know who didn’t train or who was limping?
Reader Mat Kell can’t believe some bookies are offering 4-1 on Arsenal.