As Arsenal get set to host the European champions Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League, the Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has insisted that his team are capable of beating the all-conquering Spanish giants when the teams take to the field at the Emirates stadium.
Speaking ahead of the big game, Wenger said: “We have to find the right balance between being audacious but also strong defensively as a unit. No team is perfect. Barcelona are not far from it. We need to take our chances. Barcelona are super favourites, we need to raise the urgency level. Tomorrow everybody is convinced we need to absolutely be totally focused to have a chance.
The Frenchman also commented in regards to how he plans to stop the lethal MSN trio: “I know that individually [Lionel] Messi, [Luis] Suárez and Neymar have exceptional talent; the only way we can beat them is collectively. Resilience, great solidarity, intelligent as well, let’s not forget that we have a good defensive record and a great goalkeeper as well.”
Let’s be honest here, I’m sure we can all agree that Barcelona are indeed ‘super favorites’ as Wenger said. But the question is whether this Arsenal team have what it takes to step up and take the game to the Catalan club. If you’d ask me, there is certainly enough quality in the Gunners side to beat anybody in world football, it’s just a matter of turning it up.
As the boss pointed out, we need to stay compact as a strong defensive unit and pick our moments to attack. Looking at the team, we’ve got Cech, Sanchez, Ozil and Giroud, who has proven himself to be a big-game player. Most importantly, chances will be at a premium and will have to be dispatched for the team to stand any chance.
While I wouldn’t be confident enough to bet on an Arsenal win, I wouldn’t completely write off the Gunners either. Personally, I completely agree with what Le Prof had to say – Barcelona are not perfect and CAN be beaten.
Less than 3 hour’s to go.. and if we the fan’s are feeling nervous with anticipation, God knows what the players must be feeling ?????
I hope that Wenger has his Bob Marley CD blazing in the changing room, whilst passing the bong around ??
Please!.. Arsenal, make us proud tonight!
Speed will be key in this game. I was Wenger I would Theo and Welbeck.
that is if we have any chances
FirstLy, chances must be created
Next, We must be there precisely the right time, precisely the right place to be able to finish that off…..while keeping it tight at the back!
And Last but not the Least, there will be no room to walk the ball into the net comfortably
NB! It won’t be easy playing Tiki-taka against the masters of it….and so we gotta adopt other means of killing their vibes
I met with a witch doctor and he predicted
Arsenal 5-1 Barcelona.
Come On You *expletive*s
Well I hope you didn’t take all his meds because quite clearly he needs them as well!
Im sure that that witchdoctor quite smokes the same stuff as wenger
it is a home game. If we win by 2-0 then we have a chance. Another way of winning is we draw both games and score more away goals. Upside is that Barca’s defense isn’t that superior. SO we might have a better chance in scoring. Just hope we don’t try to walk the ball to ball to much.
The last time Barcelona defeated Arsenal @ home (Highbury,Emirates) is 1999….
We can defeat them today or avoid losing. The thing is can we qualify over two legs???
Anyway’, I’m rooting for the gunners to win this one.
Come on BOYS!!!
Messi v Cech
Dun dun dun…
This is how the story will be told many years after…” Who ever knew that we’d get past the champs? Who knew? But we did thanks to Chec’s save on Suarez’s shot and that amazing goal from Giroud. Arsenal went on to win the Champion’s League that year, the Premiere League and FA Cup. Don’t wake me up.
Lesss GO! Guns, check, Ammunition, check, Boots, check, Balls, check….What are then waiting for? Lets go kick dome A***
COYG
Nice Fairytale Mate! ? I haven’t the heart to wake you up! ? I will leave that to reality. ….. It’s due to kick in any moment now ???
This is how the story will be told many years after…” Who ever knew that we’d get past the champs? Who knew? But we did thanks to Chec’s save on Suarez’s shot and that amazing goal from Giroud. Arsenal went on to win the Champion’s League that year, the Premiere League and FA Cup. Don’t wake me up.
Lesss GO! Guns, check, Ammunition, check, Boots, check, Balls, check….What are we then waiting for? Lets go kick some A***
COYG
@MBish
Priceless…
Let’s hope that Ozil is not locked out the game by their midfield. They will know if they stop him then they stop a lot of potential danger. Really hope he is in the mindset to show the world he is up there with the best.
I get the feeling we may see an all guns blazing Rambo tonight. Go on boyo!
I fear Messi, Suarez and Neymar v BFG = Doom and lots of nail biting!
Let’s hope Coquelin offers our Snail/Girrafe hybrid the cover he needs.
Going to need all players to work at 110%, our defence to be on it, Sanchez, Ozil and Giroud to all be on form tonight and it could just happen!
#believe, COYG!!
And again the new lad not even in the team? Can he not play in the CL. He has O G on again when he has not put one in the back of the net for 7 games. Walcott should start
Have a strong feeling that arsenal will surprise everyone tonight
This time we knock them out!
COYG!!!!!
Just read this on the BBC website:
Luis Suarez: Played 37, scored 41 goals.
Neymar: Played 34, scored 23
Lionel Messi: Played 31, scored 27.
OMG!!!
Hahaha ???
It’s all about Petr Cech tonight!
I’m not happy with wenger’s team selection ?
OX starting… why?! Why?!
Agreed, but worse than that Coq is the only defensive mid against 3 in the middle. He looks like he is up against Busquets, Rakitic and Iniesta if Rambo gets caught out of position. We may have lost the midfield.
There goes my belief …..” bye – bye, my belief”
see you next year!… ??
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COYG
Admin is a bit late with the next Article! ?
I think that his laptop went out of his window,
When he saw wenger’s team selection? ? ?
Tick Tock…
Maybe the ox should hop onto the pitch with his other leg tonight.?
Flamini makes the bench yet no place for Elneny! ?
Why the XXXX is the Ox starting. … I haven’t a clue!
Looks like wenger is sticking to his usual stubborn ways!
We need players that can fight for the ball and defend,
Everyone and their dog knows that the Ox can’t do that!
Wenger you block head… Just when I was feeling confident, your team selection brings me straight back down to nothing! ? I hope that I’m completely wrong and I would gladly Eat Humble pie … (with chips on the side ) if we win tonight! ??
Sorry guys but there is only 1 result tonight and that is a Barca win. Not because we are poor but a combination of them being sensational and us being.. well.. average
Poor selection for sure, what is he thinking.
Let’s see if we can take our chances tonight… our chances for a clean sheet our obviously pretty low.
We can do it. Anything can happen.
CYOG
Why do I have this feeling we’ll concede an early Luis Suarez goal? 🙁