Barcelona - The Team to Shred Arsenal?



Don't worry Cesc...it won't be the same


"Credit to Wolves though whose feeble surrender in the face of gloriously attractive, flowing football demonstrated perfectly how Arsenal will feel at 9.30pm on Wednesday after they have been torn to shreds - again - by Barcelona".

So says the Fifth Official from ESPN"s Soccernet.com. 

And he's not alone in sharing that opinion.  Most pundits, columnists, football fanatics, and yes - even some Arsenal fans - think the same because they're using Barcelona's 6-3 win on aggregate last year as a template for tomorrow night's fixture.  I just don't see it happening.  I'm not saying, either, that we're going to beat them.  What I'm predicting is a better performance by us, thus leveling the playing field.  One could account for this prediction by pointing to my natural tendency toward the positive, but mostly it's due to the fact that this year's Arsenal team is different than the team that faced Barca last year.  I'm not one for breaking down statistics. Numbers can be enlightening, but they're so much work.  But this being a special occasion and all - I thought I would at least analyze ( a bit) the difference between Arsenal vs. Barcelona 2010 and Arsenal vs. Barcelona 2011.

Last year's match on March 31st, 2010 was the quarter finals of the Champion League.  The first leg was also played at the Emirates as is tomorrow's.  And while tomorrow's game is not yet the quarter final round, that is not the only difference. Here was the squad that started last year.

Almunia

                                                 Sagna     Gallas      Vermaelan (sigh)    Clichy

                                                                     Song  Diaby

                                                     Nasri           Cesc            Arshavin

                                                                        Bendtner

Theo came off the bench in the 66th minute and scored in the 69th minute after we were down 2-0.  Cesc then scored his leg breaker of a penalty and we ended up 2-2.  Lest we forget, Almunia had 5 saves just in the opening 20 minutes before we settled in. 

As far as the other starters go, Nasri ended last season with only 5 goals in all competitions.  This year he already has 14 goals in all competitions and is listed as being in the squad for the match tomorrow after recovering early from a hamstring injury.  Most likely he won't start as an almost-in-form Arshavin my have earned one more start.

You probably notice a big name missing on the squad from last year and that would be our lead striker at the moment Robin Van Persie.  Van Persie received an ankle injury in a Netherlands/Italy friendly in November 2009 and recovered in time for the 2010 World Cup, but did not feature in the Champions League matches against Barcelona.  This year after a slow start of appearances due to his World Cup travails and obtaining yet another injury at the beginning of the season, he now has 12 goals in 19 appearances in all competitions.  He is looking confident and hungry for the ball.  I think  - not surprisingly - he will be one of the wild cards tomorrow.

Theo Walcott will also probably start after having a decent run this season.  He has already scored 11 goals in 27 appearances in all competitions.  Compare that to the end of last season when he had a total of...4 goals.  Messi has even admitted that Theo, when he came on the pitch last year, "scared" Barcelona with his pace.  Even though Theo still needs to work on his decision in front of the goal, he has gotten much better this season,and continues to grow as a player.

My last wild card?  Well, it's Spiky Jack of course.  He's only 19 years old which could mean that he'll be intimidated by playing the inarguable best team in the world.  However, he did just complete his first starting appearance for England, albeit in a friendly, and did not look intimidated on that stage.  He also is playing well in tandem with Song and Cesc in the double pivot.  If he keeps his head, his attacking capabilities as well as his improved defending will make a huge difference in containing Barcelona';s midfield and Messi- feeding machine. 

We also have the always improving center back team of Djourou and Koscielny and our unflappable other 19 year old in goal...Chezzers.  He also will be called upon to play older than his years.  Hopefully, he won't be called upon to make a handful of saves in the opening minutes. 

My only real concern?  It's Eboue playing in place of the suspended Sagna.  Theo will have his plate extra full helping to cover that right side.  Sagna, however, has no doubts about Eboue and has given him his 200% support.  Wow - that's a lot of support.  Let's hope Eboue lives up to Sagna's belief in him and does not end up on the ground rolling around holding his face because someone tried to swat a fly on the other side of the pitch or something. 

So to finish up, this should be the starting line-up tomorrow:

Szczesny

                                                    Eboue   Djourou     Kozzers     Clichy

                                                                      Spiky     Song

                                                           Theo     Cesc     Arshavin/Nasri

                                                                           Robin

I think just the goal difference total from last year to this year with the players I listed is 28.  The added firepower  combined with the confidence of some new players should really make  tomorrow's match a totally different game. 

Well, I guess that's it for now.  I'll be tuning in for that match at Big Z's, but don't look for me to be tweeting.  I'll be too engrossed in the match.  I'll be back for a post-match report though. 

Oh, I forgot to mention something about  that "Fifth Official"?

He's an idiot.

So get ready Gooners...and GO. YOU. REDS!!!!