A great win against Wolves, we all know. But it's now time we brush away the emotional high and confidence from that win.
Sounds strange, doesn't it? But if our squad has the same confidence as they had when going out to play Wolves, we're screwed.
As you, me, and the players know, Barcelona is a slightly better side than Wolves.
I'm not saying that we can't have confidence going into this match, god no. I'm simply saying that we need a different type of confidence.
Instead of thinking, "We need the three points today, let's show Wolves that we're the Arsenal" we must think "This is Barcelona, but let's show them that we're not a side that can be taken down easily. Let's really stick it to them and get a result".
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| Break his ankles Cesc |
I think the key to beating Barcelona is through Arshavin and Walcott. We need to have a lot of width.
With the absence of Puyol, I suspect Abidal will move into the center with Pique and Milito will be stationed on the left. Barcelona play with a system where their two full backs (Dani Alves and Milito) are very high up the pitch, and as a result Busquets/Mascherano drops back to the center backs to almost make a three man back line. Henceforth, with the pace of Walcott and Arshavin, if Cesc can organize a proper counter attack using the width of the pitch, we really should be able to score.Arshavin's pace is no match for Pique, and Walcott, well... let's not even mention that.
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| Simple diagram on how we should hit Barca on the counter attack. |
However, I'm not saying that we should simply sit back and wait to get Barca on the counter, I'm simply saying that when we are in our own third, then use the counter attack to our advantage.
Now, because of Arsenal and Barcelona's similar styles of play, this match should be fantastic. But Arsenal must keep the ball better than they did last year. We need to play the possession game, and try and find the ball to penetrate their defense. Because, quite frankly, we cannot go to the Nou Camp looking for a 2-0 or 3-1 win. We've got to win the first leg if their are any hopes of killing off the Catalan club.
When in their final third, we still will have to use width. It will be very congested in the middle with Xavi, Iniesta, Mascherano and our lads. Hence, get it to Theo and the little Russian, to play low balls into the middle for the on form RvP.
Defensively, we have to replicate what Barca does. As soon as they lose the ball, we have to work our asses off to get the ball back. When Messi loses the ball, he scrambles back and wins it back. He doesn't have to do that, he's the fucking greatest player in the world! He could stay up top all day if he wanted to. But he doesn't. Why? Because he wants to win, so badly. Arshavin needs that drive.
We are playing the best club in the world on Wednesday night, there is no debating it. And to beat them, 110% isn't good enough. 150% is par.
Also, in case you didn't already know, Barca has a deadly front three. Villa - Messi - Pedro.
We cannot man mark Messi. He floats around the pitch and that would distort our shape. That's another thing- we cannot lose our shape. We need to be organized.
Villa will be stationed on the left hand side, so Sagna will have to deal with him, which I think he will. Sagna has been on great form this season, and I trust him to get the job done.
Pedro is also a threat. He cannot be underestimated. Clichy can use his pace to deal with Pedro, but Clichy will have to defend better in one v one situations.
Then there's Dani Alves. If Arshavin plays, he MUST track back and defend. Dani Alves is more of an attacker than a defender, and we don't want Clichy to be flooded on the left hand side.
However, there is a chance Arshavin may not play, and Nasri could come on. Wenger has been quoted saying he will not take a huge gamble. Nasri will have his fitness tests today an tomorrow.
I hope Wenger plays Arshavin. Arshavin has been playing well and when he gets tired, Nasri can come on. Quite the super sub.
And Nasri is a very important player to our title campaign. It's more important to have him for the rest of the season than one match.
Well that's that on my tactical breakdown of the first leg of the Barca tie.
In other news, Robin van Persie will be fit for the match, if anyone was worrying about the ice pack on his leg at the end of the Wolves match.
While on the topic of RvP, he has made Premier League history this month, scoring the highest amount of goals in the first two months of the new year. He's now our most in-form player; let's hope it stays that way for the Barca matches.
That's that for today. Back tomorrow for updates on the big match Wednesday night.
Have a good one.
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