Arsenal v Barcelona

[ruudboy]

A game that deserves its own build up thread.

Wilshere has been saying all the right things, he's a mature person for his age. Arsenal will want to get very tight when they do not have the ball and play in a very un Arsenal like way. And when Arsenal are in posession, they will have to exercise caution when getting ahead of the ball. Barca are as good on the break as the United team of 1999.

Good luck to them, anything to nil might be a good result. Even 0-0. I fancy it will be tight over the two games, Wenger will no doubt have watched videos of Inter Milans success against Barcelona from last season. There is always a way, no team is invincible. Xavi conceded in his excellent Interview, that Arsenal were almost admiring them last time out. No time for that on Wednesday. I can't wait. Bring it on.

[adam_ayres1988]

2 teams that play with a similar "pretty" style, it should be good over the 2 legs.

Naturally Barcelona are the favourites, but if everyone plays well I feel Arsenal could beat them. As stated no team is truly invincible and even if the results don't go the way I want them to I'm sure they will be excellent games to watch

[glenman]

Let me start by saying I have a deep hatred of Barca born from their obscene courting of our captain and his dna that gets mentioned anytime any of them spots a microphone. This and their Greg Louganis style of play against us last year, especially Messi and Iniesta means I hope we shit em when we play. They even have me wanting the special needs one to win the league, I mean wanting Maureen to win FECK ME!
We can win this tie, it will be different this year as we are a far healthier and confident squad-possibly only 3 players short of our first 11 compared to last years half a team, Eboue playing scares me though. Jack Wilshere says we need to get in their faces (I hate it when people say this about playing us, guess its from his time at Bolton) but we do need to press, press and press. If we play to our ability and work like demons we can do it, I only hope we go to their place without having conceded.
Come on you Gunners.

[Harry Hotspur]

Referees for the game are Italian....that you fooked then..

Nicola Rizzoli (ITA)

Assistant referees
Renato Faverani (ITA), Andrea Stefani (ITA)

[Begbie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by glenman

Let me start by saying I have a deep hatred of Barca born from their obscene courting of our captain and his dna that gets mentioned anytime any of them spots a microphone. This and their Greg Louganis style of play against us last year, especially Messi and Iniesta means I hope we shit em when we play. They even have me wanting the special needs one to win the league, I mean wanting Maureen to win FECK ME!
We can win this tie, it will be different this year as we are a far healthier and confident squad-possibly only 3 players short of our first 11 compared to last years half a team, Eboue playing scares me though. Jack Wilshere says we need to get in their faces (I hate it when people say this about playing us, guess its from his time at Bolton) but we do need to press, press and press. If we play to our ability and work like demons we can do it, I only hope we go to their place without having conceded.
Come on you Gunners.

Deep down, you know that the Nomads will put up a good show but are out already.

[deadlywill]

Defending will be the key as just checking barca's stats - in their last 16 games before their draw on the weekend they scored 60 goals which is 3.75 goals per game. Given that the la liga is not as strong as the premier league as a whole then Arsenal can match up in my book. Man Utd and Arsenal stats are almost identical apart from the draws/loss columns with Arsenal arguably looking the better passing team in the last few weeks.

The only good thing's are that Van persie is back and in form and that Barca had a draw against Sporting who are third from the bottom and they only scraped in in the 80th minute. It's the only chink in their armour all season so it's something i guess.

My prediction is Barcelona 8 - 0 Arsenal

[jake robinson]

Moutwatering game can't wait (0-0 now). I am a big fan of la liga and Barca, literally because I like to see good football. Barca have been so strong but what will they be like against better opposition who play similar, all guns blazing. I think it will be back to the more we can score more than you game, nothing too tactical, I hope. However I do think Barca will win it, they raised their game so much for the Real game and I think they will do the same here. Arsenal seem to struggle with teams coming at them like Barca will, they won’t show the same respect a lot of teams pay them. They know Arsenal are really quick on the break but can lose patience, frustration at not having the ball, we have seen that this season. Hope they will give it a real go and take it close. I reckon 4-2 first leg but judging by my predictions I may be slightly wrong.

[shihamseishu]

This might be a very intense yet interesting game I suppose. Regardless of hatred or what so ever, the best team wins!

[jake robinson]

Well my prediction was rubbish as usual, but one I don't mind getting wrong. Well done Arsenal, half time and have a lead. Just got to win or draw in the camp nou second half, not going to miss that, brilliant.

[Burdock]

Well played Arsenal... stuck in there in the 2nd half and somehow came out on top! Great game for the neutral, looking forward to 2nd leg.

[bill.glentoran]

barca claim they only know one way to play the game,didnt think they played it tonight,looked a bit subdued to me and lacking a bit of pace but think this was because of their tactics,saying that messi could have had a hat trick,all the same well done arsenal

[glenman]

Still second favourites but we have given ourselves a chance, now if we can keep everyone fit, take all our chances and have a decent ref you never know.