UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Arsenal v Barcelona (1st leg) 16 February 2011 Ashburton Grove 2:45pm EST
Nasri may be able to make the bench but it's touch and go. Sagna will be play in the first leg due to suspension. We'll most definitely see Eboue played in the RB position.
This is a huge game. This year will be different. RVP is back and in terrific form and he will be a difference-maker. We need to match their possession play but most importantly we need to be aggressive pursuing the ball like they are. I think their constant pressure surprised us a little last time.
Vieira said Barca looked content with the 1-nil win. They decided not to press and as the game went on Arsenal gained momentum and eventually got even. By that point the ball was still rolling our way, the fans were in full voice, and the second was inevitable. Something like the Newcastle game but in reverse. Although I would be remiss not to point out we'd gotten lucky at least three times in the game not to be scored on. Wilshire was fantastic, best on the pitch. RVP's goal was a thing of beauty. Completely fooled VV. As for Arshavin--hopefully this is the turning point in his season. And as we expected we benefited greatly from Nasri's presence as he set up the go-ahead goal. Could've done with Sagna as Eboue was a bit of a mess out there. Our form has been excellent of late and it's a shame we don't have a league game for another week.
It is truly a magical moment for Arsenal. This will be a HUGE confidence boost for us as Barcelona rarely fuck up their leads. We'll need to be on-point for the away leg but I am still hopeful. Nasri will be fully fit by then and we might have Vermaelen on the bench. Barcelona will have Puyol again but lost Pique for the next leg. C'MON ARSENAL! C'MON ARSENAL!
My favorite part of the game was right after Barcelona scored. You could still hear the fans tearing it up.
Victor Valdes is likely to miss the return leg. This is great news to us as their second string goalkeeper (Pinto) is worse than Almunia and Fabianski.
Cesc tweet:@jack_wilshere can't believe i had to go to get Messi's shirt for u. U were so scared. You were MOTM so next time please ask urself!
Best stadium atmosphere I've seen at the emirates, rightly so, we needed to beat these Cvnts. I won't lie, I fukin screamed when arshavin scored the winner, I was jumping up and down, best satisfaction I had in years, even if we lose the next leg, we showed those cvnts we won't roll over for them.
