CL Round of 16 - Arsenal vs. Barcelona match thread

So, another matchup between the apprentices and the masters of tiki taka! Can Arsenal do better than last season? Will Cesc be fit to take his revenge?

If last year didn't make up Cesc's mind to move back home, this year surely will.

Wenger the "prediction specialist" in comments made earlier:

"I know who we will get," he said. "If I say we want Barcelona, you won't believe me. I don't even think about it. I hope we get who I feel we will get."

Both sides had injuries/suspensions last year, but if Barca play to 80% and more of their potential, Arsenal stand no chance.

Thing is, Arsenal defence looks even worse this year, and Barca just look better in every part of the field.

Looking forward to it though.

Anything but another absolute dicking would be a surprise.

the asenal fans will be unbearable again this year, last season it was song>busquets and what not, wonder what it will be this time around

Messiah wrote:the asenal fans will be unbearable again this year, last season it was song>busquets and what not, wonder what it will be this time around

Nasri>Messi
'Squidge'>Puyol
Wilshere>Xavi
Chamakh>Villa

Currently, (and being objective, or so I would like to believe)...not one Arsenal player would make the Barca side. Maybe Arshavin/Nasri over Pedro, assuming they're both in form (current Arshavin wouldn't) And Barca have arguably 3 of the top 5 players in the world.

But that said football isn't played on paper, and this Arsenal side are capable of hurting anyone, with the pace and skill that they attack with, and as good as Barca are, they can sometimes look a little exposed at the back (usually the result of an individual error in possession fooball which catches the whole team out) And Arsenal do have quality players in their own regard, but current form it's hard to argue there can be only one winner...

In 3 months time though, it could all change

Calidad wrote:Currently, (and being objective, or so I would like to believe)...not one Arsenal player would make the Barca side. Maybe Arshavin/Nasri over Pedro, assuming they're both in form (current Arshavin wouldn't) And Barca have arguably 3 of the top 5 players in the world.

But that said football isn't played on paper, and this Arsenal side are capable of hurting anyone, with the pace and skill that they attack with, and as good as Barca are, they can sometimes look a little exposed at the back (usually the result of an individual error in possession fooball which catches the whole team out) And Arsenal do have quality players in their own regard, but current form it's hard to argue there can be only one winner...

In 3 months time though, it could all change

I think they tend to become disjointed against us.. The way I saw them last year their defence dropped deep while their attack tried to press high. So we started getting oceans of space in the centre, and the attack could run at their defence time and time again.

If they dont clear that up, it will be a slaughter, because either you play deep and accumulate people in the box and just in from (like Inter) or you push up your defence and try to swamp midfield and break up the possession game (like Villarreal). Last year was a naive attempt to do both.

One positive for Arsenal is that Silvestre won't be playing to let Messi get one of his easiest hattricks you'll ever see.

On thie hindsight though, when you have Villa, Messi, Xavi and Iniesta in the same team, there's only one winner unless you have a tactical genius. Whinger sadly isn't.

Cesc would get into our team, he is better than Xavi

Hem fet un.. wrote:

Calidad wrote:Currently, (and being objective, or so I would like to believe)...not one Arsenal player would make the Barca side. Maybe Arshavin/Nasri over Pedro, assuming they're both in form (current Arshavin wouldn't) And Barca have arguably 3 of the top 5 players in the world.

But that said football isn't played on paper, and this Arsenal side are capable of hurting anyone, with the pace and skill that they attack with, and as good as Barca are, they can sometimes look a little exposed at the back (usually the result of an individual error in possession fooball which catches the whole team out) And Arsenal do have quality players in their own regard, but current form it's hard to argue there can be only one winner...

In 3 months time though, it could all change

I think they tend to become disjointed against us.. The way I saw them last year their defence dropped deep while their attack tried to press high. So we started getting oceans of space in the centre, and the attack could run at their defence time and time again.

If they dont clear that up, it will be a slaughter, because either you play deep and accumulate people in the box and just in from (like Inter) or you push up your defence and try to swamp midfield and break up the possession game (like Villarreal). Last year was a naive attempt to do both.

Yeah, agree with both of you. Arsenal's problem is that although they are very good on the ball (like Barça) they are terrible without it (unlike Barça). And by terrible I mean in all areas: attack, midfield, and defense. In the Premier League and against CL group opposition, they get to play their way and keep the ball most of the time...but against Barça, they don't get the ball, and so they struggle.

Barcelona are clearly favorite, not only for this game but for the whole competition... I hope by then Van Persie will be scoring like he was before and Fabregas'll be fully fit...
We can only put this team in danger (if we can) with our best XI...

Messiah wrote:Cesc would get into our team, he is better than Xavi

You serious? You would rather have Cesc than Xavi???

Fenomeno wrote:One positive for Arsenal is that Silvestre won't be playing to let Messi get one of his easiest hattricks you'll ever see.

On thie hindsight though, when you have Villa, Messi, Xavi and Iniesta in the same team, there's only one winner unless you have a tactical genius. Whinger sadly isn't.

Neither is Mourinho, yet we won....

Barca at current form look unstoppable. But form and fitness are never constant thru out the season. There will be dips in form, and there may be injuries to key players. There will be times when Barca become vulnerable.

IMO a strong counter attacking team with a quality, disciplined defense could take Barca out, that is one way. When in form, teams like Chelsea or Inter could do that... perhaps even Real or ManU on their good days (and Barca's bad days)...

bluenine wrote:

Messiah wrote:Cesc would get into our team, he is better than Xavi

You serious? You would rather have Cesc than Xavi???

He's being sarcastic. IIRC some people were claiming at some point in the past couple of years that Cesc is equal to, if not better than, Xavi.

Theo's got a little confused:

I would love to go back there and show them what we are all about this season.

I think we have had great experience and now we can progress. The team has improved, new personnel have come in and we've been fortunate with injuries this season. We want to win some silverware for the fans because they have waited too long.

As long as we don't get Barcelona on a day when they play Real Madrid and win 5-0.

I would have thought that the best day to play Barca is when their first team is busy against Madrid. Even Arsenal would stand a good chance against Barca's reserves.

Puyol probably won't be fit in time for the 1st leg

It means Abidal will probably fill in at CB, and Maxwell will be at LB against Walcott

I'd almost prefer if Guardiola plays Busquets at CB and keeps Abidal at LB to match up against Walcott.

I have some sympathy, but then Sagna is unjustly suspended so we will probably have Eboue against Villa.

With van Persie in this form..I fancy L'Arse over Barca! It wont be a disgrace like last year, thats for sure!

If I was Pep I'd definitely start Mascherano if Puyol is injured. Busquets could fill in at centre back, absolutely no doubt about it.

-----------------VV----------------------

---Alves-------Busquets-------Pique----------Abidal----------

--------------------Mascherano------------------------------

--------------Iniesta------------Xavi-----------------------

-------Pedro--------------Messi----------------Villa------------

Looks pretty good to me.

I wouldn't want to start Mascherano in an away CL game. Too card-prone, esp. against a team that's skillful and pacy on the counter, like Arsenal are.

You've bought Masch to play in big European game like this surely.

I don't understand why they bought him either.

Has Busquets played at CB before? Sounds like a disaster.

He virtually plays there anyway when he drops into a back 3 and Alves and Abidal push up.

Hmm..doesnt really seem like the same thing though. Going from dropping back to join 2 regular CBs to being one of the main CBs.

christmasborocooper wrote:Hmm..doesnt really seem like the same thing though. Going from dropping back to join 2 regular CBs to being one of the main CBs.

Just an idea. I think he's got the attributes to fill that role for a game but could be wrong.

I just think this is a game built for Masch; if there's anyone to stop Cesc from getting too involed then it's him.

Yeah I cant see a problem with putting Mascherano into a team...I just think its a bit mad that Barca havent got a back up for their CB so are having to think about putting a DM in there.

christmasborocooper wrote:Yeah I cant see a problem with putting Mascherano into a team...I just think its a bit mad that Barca havent got a back up for their CB so are having to think about putting a DM in there.

Well it was just me suggesting that - I'm not sure if they do have a back up replacement besides Shifting Abidal there and putting Maxwell on the left. Is Milito still there? I know they sold that chgysnwdoswdwoaqdwiwnsad fella didn't they?