Before we all start saying that Barça will surely win, and that we’re invincible, and all the blah blah blah that we talk about all the time, let’s have a look at Arsenal’s current form and observe very thoroughly our last game, against Gijon. In short, let’s do what Pep does before and after every single Barça game, taking the time to analyze and think for a moment.
We can easily observe that our form in the last game was awful. Some might relate this to the international break (aka FIFA Virus), others might say that our defense was a wreck. Honestly, we must give all the credit to Sporting’s great coach, Manuel Preciado, who surely knew how to organize his defense and the team’s counter attacks, and keep his squad mentally strong throughout the whole game.
Now back to our old topic, I was talking about Arsenal -our next UEFA Champions League opponent- who seem to be the second most entertaining team in the world after Barça, according to some football critics. I will be analyzing five ways through which Arsenal may be actually able to defeat Barça – you might think it’s unlikely, but football can be a backstabbing game.
Here we go on this bumpy ride, five ways Arsenal can hold Barça and maybe win against them:
1) Destroy Messi’s legs
The one and only way to stop the best player in the world at the moment (who might perhaps be one of the best of all time as some tip him) is to tackle him and play like a bulldog. This tactic is of course something that is extremely anti-Barça or anti-football to the neutrals. If Arsenal manages to stop Messi via tackling him at the beginning of the game, which might make him afraid of getting injured so he’ll stop making huge efforts in passing, this then be Arsenal’s succssful bulldog line of defense against Barça, or rather, Messi.
2) Keep the ball away from Barça
We all know – at least most of us – that Barça rely on keeping possession. Barça keeps the ball, the opposition gets frustrated, and then the Blaugrana do their thing and find that through ball to the attack which will be shot to the corner of the net or lobbed above the keeper then… GOAL DEL BARCA! Well if Arsenal manages to keep the ball away from Barça by any means and drive the Catalans crazy, I’d say congrats Arsenal and hard luck Barça. This is very unlikely to happen though, because no team has ever had greater possession of the ball against Barça since well… who cares - a very long time ago when humans had no way to record this information or maybe from the days when football was played with a mountain-sized rock.
3) Aim for Pique and Alves
With Puyol almost 100% out of the next clash, Pep will most likely be opting to use an Abidal-Pique center-back formula. And without Puyol’s defensive leading skills, our defense will be lacking that lion-heart that tells everyone what to do. Pique needs a few more years to reach the level of skill that El Capita has reached – you might attack me but you know that what I’m saying is true. Another of Pique’s flaws is that he isn’t very fast, his lack of pace potentially a problem against Van Persie or Walcott’s speeds. Alves is an awesome player on the attack but rather average defensively – another thing that I will be attacked for, but it’s true. Alves has a tendency to set up a tent in the opposition’s field and rarely returns to defend. This will leave his side of the field completely open for certain Walcotts’ or Arshavins’ who use their speed without thinking twice. That might be the most dangerous problem for Barça.
4) Use Walcott
One of the fastest players I’ve ever seen is this young lad. I remember when people used to say he’s better than Messi. Well, he is only faster, that’s all. And within his speed lies danger, like last year’s first leg when he scored.
5) Cut off the Xavi-Iniesta connection
The most important and impressive thing I’ve ever seen in Barça and what makes me want to watch their games is this marvelous wireless connection between Xavi and Iniesta – the players who share the ‘Best Player in the World’ tag with Messi, in my humble opinion. If Arsenal manages to jam this connection between Xavi and Don Andres, Barça’s link with the attack would be weaker as each of these fantastic men will have to work individually to build up an attack. This could prove mighty hard to do.
Those were five ways Arsenal can beat Barca, in my humble and honest opinion. You can check on Arsenal’s latest form via my series of articles called “From London With Love” published previously on totalBarca.
Share your opinions respectfully; who knows, you might prove me wrong…
VISCA EL BARCA!
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