Arsenal host none other than La Liga giants Barcelona at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.
Both teams buoyed by this season’s league form, with Arsenal joint 2nd and Barcelona running away with La Liga, this is set to be a technically superb clash, with the likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez clashing with the fearsome front line of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez. With both teams taking a liking to dominating possession, it will also be interesting to see if Arsenal are willing to sit back at home and counter attack, much like they did with great success against Bayern Munich and Manchester City earlier this season.
Fears over Per Mertesacker’s lack of pace being exposed may be short-sighted due to the assumed deeper line being played, so perhaps the hamstring injury to Gabriel will not as worrying as anticipated. It will also be interesting to see Arsene Wenger’s instructions to Aaron Ramsey – usually a maverick in the midfield, the Welshman has been in good form over the last few weeks, and will need to continue to be in order to combat Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic. The dynamism of Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck could also prove useful in suppressing the foraging Barcelona full-backs. Let’s not forget Petr Cech, arguably the best goalkeeper in the Premier League, is there in case the defence is breached. In terms of Barcelona’s defensive weaknesses, set pieces would be the way to go for Arsenal, and with Mesut Ozil showing his prominence at free kicks, one wouldn’t bet against an Olivier Giroud goal from set piece.
However, a huge slice of luck will be needed to stop the MSN frontline regardless of how Arsenal defend – this is possibly the best front line in Europe, and the world. A mixture of skill, pace and technical ability, questions will be asked if even an in-form Arsenal defence can hold off the trio.
A player Barcelona should watch is Mesut Ozil – having faced him during his years at Real Madrid, Luis Enrique’s side now face the diminutive playmaker for the first time since his move to England.
Having accumulated 17 assists in the League, there is no doubt that Ozil will create chances in both ties of the game – it is up to the likes of Giroud to finish them.
The last two occasions Arsenal and Barcelona clashed in the Champions League, it has been the team at home that has come off best. A 6-3 and 4-3 aggregate loss followed 2-1 and 2-2 results at the Emirates, showing that away in England, Barcelona can prove to be vulnerable.
Match facts
– Barcelona’s last two trips to the Emirates have resulted in a 2-2 draw, and a 2-1 victory for the Gunners.
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– Messi, Neymar and Suarez have alone scored 58 goals in La Liga and 10 goals in the Champions League.
– By comparison, Arsenal’s top three scorers (Giroud, Alexis & Ozil) in the Champions League have also scored 10 goals, but only 22 goals in the Premier League.
– Arsenal have kept 12 clean sheets in the League and three in the Champions league, while Barcelona have kept 11 and 2.
Team news
– Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla are still out for a few weeks, along with Gabriel, who is out with a hamstring injury. Tomas Rosicky remains out for a couple of months.
– Only Rafinha remains injured for the Catalan side.
Predicted XIs
Arsenal (4-2-3-1) : Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Ramsey; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Alexis; Giroud.
Barcelona (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Alves, Mascherano, Pique, Alba; Busquets, Iniesta, Rakitic; Messi, Neymar, Suarez.
