Written by Mean Lean on Monday, 07 March 2011 22:45

Arsenal could be heading into what is potentially our most difficult game of the season this evening. Barcelona at Camp Nou has proven to be a massive test for pretty much all who have gone there in the last few years.

Both teams will not be quite at full strength although Robin Van Persie looks like a welcome boost to the squad. The Dutchman was expected to be out for a few weeks but seems to have made a rapid recovery. He could well take his place on the bench which could be Arsene's ace up his sleeve if he needs it. What we do not need is to take a gamble on his fitness and for that to backfire. He should only start the game if 100% fit but I think I would rather start him against West Brom and use him late in the second half if we need his services. It would be nice if we didn't need his services.

Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola has defensive problems to sort out, both his first choice central defenders Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol will not feature due to suspension and injury respectively. It probably means a shift around in positions for both Eric Abidal and Sergio Busquets who may take the place of their first choice stoppers. I don't quite know what that says about the Barcelona back up defenders but clearly the likes of Milito and company cannot be jumping for joy.

It will be down to our attacking players to put the Barcelona defence under some sort of pressure because it will be an area that we should be able to give them some sort of problems.

As happy as I am to see Robin back in the squad, I would have been well and truly over the moon had Theo Walcott somehow made a miraculous recovery in time for tonight's game. Last season he caused them problems and that was without the supporting cast of Cesc Fabregas, Jack Wilshere and Robin. All players who could have picked him out on the break, instead I hope Andrey Arshavin will be the player making off the ball runs to get in behind Alves or perhaps even Maxwell on the opposite side.

With Dani Alves' tendency to bomb forward and support the attack I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Nasri and Arshavin switch positions much in the way they did in the first leg last season.

Barcelona will have more of the possession and it would be a massive risk to ask Arshavin to track Alves for the whole 90 minutes. It simply wouldn't happen and we could be carved apart down our left. Maxwell will also get forward whenever he can but Barcelona tend to use Alves more than their left sided Brazilian. We need Arshavin as fresh as possible for making runs and playing defence splitting passes when we have the ball in dangerous areas.

There could also be a very good argument for starting Marouane Chamakh over Bendtner, for one Chamakh is a better presser of the ball and we will need that in full effect. He is also fresher than Bendtner after playing less minutes in recent weeks and another theory is that he links up the midfield better than the Dane who can always be used as an impact substitute late on if we need his presence.

The only other question is who replaces Alex Song as our defensive midfield player. Denilson is probably more suited to the role in this type of game where physical strength is not an issue but his lack of recent confidence and form could give Abou Diaby a chance but I just cannot see Diaby being made to play a more defensive game against a side who will have so much of the ball. Physical strength is Diaby's advantage over Denilson but this is not the Premier League where anything goes (if you play against Arsenal) so for that reason I expect Denilson to start and I hope he can do himself justice after the recent vitriol launched in his direction.

Mean Lean's Predicted Line Up:

One to watch: Laurent Koscielny

He was Arsenal's man of the match in the first game and he will be very important once again against the best offence in the world. I expect Koscielny to have to make plenty of last ditch tackles and fingers crossed he gets them all spot on as he did in the first leg.

Key Battles to look out for:

Dani Alves vs Gael Clichy
Javier Mascherano vs Cesc Fabregas
Lionel Messi vs Laurent Koscielny
Xavier Hernandez vs Jack Wilshere
Maxwell Cabelino Andrade vs Andrey Arshavin/Emmanuel Eboue

Mean Lean's Match Prediction:

Barcelona 3 Arsenal 1 (Nasri)

I am interested to see if the two teams approach the game in the same way as the first leg. If we do then we have to expect another high line with our forwards allowing their center backs to have the ball and once the ball gets played into midfield then the likes of Chamakh, Cesc, Wilshere and co will be snapping into the Barcelona players trying to win the ball back quickly and then play from their half. Barcelona will not allow our defenders time on the ball and then try and stop our midfielders from receiving passes.

It may prove rather difficult without Van Persie or Walcott starting the game. I think we will pose them problems and hopefully score an away goal but I think they will score just that one too many for us to take the game into extra time.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Arsene throw a spanner into the works and start someone like Eboue to replace Walcott's pace on the right. Arshavin has had plenty of football in recent weeks and may use him to strengthen the bench even further. It would give the side the added defensive ability and the more I think about it, the more I think it is likely that Eboue will start ahead of Arshavin, but I am far too lazy to alter the blog and the line up image.

A good performance with fight along with a clean bill of health will do me just fine, anything else would be a lovely bonus.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS

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Comments (49)

• 08-Mar-2011 11:12 | | emma
  

  it will be Barcelona 1 vs Arsenal 3. Just wait and see

• 08-Mar-2011 11:14 | | Osi  - Best smile
  

  From those guys in the line-up who has the best Smile? certainly, from the outset, it's a daft smile, but one that needs to be answered.
  
  good luck for the team. I think will draw 2 all, from the beat of my heart. My mind isn't working until after the final whistle.

• 08-Mar-2011 11:17 | | king gooner  - u wot?
  

  there is no way i want "deck chair denilson"anywhere that pitch mate-just the though of it gives me the shits-waste of space-i would play wilshere in front of back four-diaby(pray the brain is working)if it is he will give barca major probs-i agree with letting eboue run at maxwell though-save arshavin & the boy wonder for 2nd half-late if needed-start with chamackh attack-have to hold that ball up..predict as an optimist 2-2.!!!!

• 08-Mar-2011 11:19 | | gradew  - I prioritize diaby's long lengs than denilson.
  

  Hi, It is good formation especially when we are expected to be compact in the middle. But diaby's long leg are good in interceptions than denilson.

• 08-Mar-2011 11:24 | | mo-money
  

  I feel like in those moments when all we need to do is keep possession Deni will do better than Diaby - who tends to keep the ball too long then just give it away

• 08-Mar-2011 11:25 | | Colin  - My Team
  

  My Arsenal team tonight:
  
  Szczesny
  
  Sagna Koscienly Squillaci Clichy
  
  Diaby
  Fabregas Wilshere
  
  Arsharvin Van Persie Nasri
  
  If Van Persie isn't fit start with Chamakh We need Diaby in the team instead of Denilson he is poor i think wenger should cash in on him

• 08-Mar-2011 11:25 | | mo-money  - MC29
  

  Let's hope MC29's champs league experience from last year gets him game time tonight - I really wouldn't start Bendtner

• 08-Mar-2011 11:29 | | KINGRVP  - One nil to the Arsenal
  

  Why did you dump us out of the champions league? still hope for a gunners victory to get over the Carling Cup Blues.
  Come on you Gunners

• 08-Mar-2011 11:31 | | Gooner4Ever  - Arsenal to qualift
  

  I prefer Rosicky more than Denilson or Diaby They are both very slow. Arsenal will go on attack and ball possesion,which I hope will unsettle Barca

• 08-Mar-2011 11:32 | | Peter Welch  - Tough to call...
  

  Your last sentence will do me.
  
  Interesting Eboue comments... You may well be proved right. If he plays & has a good game it could well be decisive V's Maxwell. Just wish he would release the ball a little earlier sometimes. Too often he looses it after all the good work.
  
  Great blog, as always.

• 08-Mar-2011 11:41 | | KAYZ 251  - Gunners thru
  

  I agree with Eboue having a go plus its a double right back defence when we need to..Congest that midfield area and hit Barca who will sure attack on the break.Ebuoe will b effective here.Start with RVP..he will cause probs 4 Abidal and Sergio..I expect Koscielny to mark Messi as he did in the 2nd half of first leg..Arsenal should score first and we will qualify..Prediction is Barca 1 Arsenal 1

• 08-Mar-2011 11:43 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Tough one.
  
  The problem is that we don't have a like-for-like Song replacement. Diaby offers strength and Denilson offers passing but neither really offers both. I think Denilson will get the nod but it remains to be seen.
  
  I'm also completely unsure over the Chamakh/Bendtner conundrum. Van P should be bench at best and the it just depends what is more important, keeping the ball or scoring. I think Chamakh just edges it because he works harder and his passing is better and I still think he can pose a goal threat.
  
  As I said, tough one.

• 08-Mar-2011 12:24 | | KAYZ 251  - History 2 the good
  

  Of the four times Barça has had to turn around a 2-1 defeat in European competitions, they have been successful twice.
  
  Arsenal have gone through in 14 of the 15 European qualifiers where the club won the first leg at home.

• 08-Mar-2011 13:16 | | Goonzilla
  

  Should be a good game tonight. I don't fancy us winning tonight but I see us going through. Losing 3-2 or getting any kind of draw.
  
  Barca have shown us that they struggle to breakdown opponents who come to defend (Valencia and Zaragoza only lost narrowly - 1-0 on both occasions in Barca's last 2 league games. Make no mistake, Our approach will be quite similar, but with us posing more of a counter attacking threat than either of those sides.
  
  STAT OF THE DAY: In the 15 CL knockout ties that Arsenal have won the 1st leg, they have gone on to qualify 14 times.
  
  Make what you want about that. Will surely put a tenner on our boys to go through tonight @ 4/1. Nice odds.

• 08-Mar-2011 13:36 | | Bash
  

  I prefer 4-4-2 stuff tonight, let van p and bendtner plays attach because, in the absence of pique and puyol bendtner is likely to have goal advantage over van p and denilson instead of diabi in the defensive mid-field

• 08-Mar-2011 13:37 | | Bash
  

  I prefer 4-4-2 stuff tonight, let van p and bendtner plays attach because, in the absence of pique and puyol bendtner is likely to have goal advantage over van p and denilson instead of diabi in the defensive mid-field

• 08-Mar-2011 13:38 | | Bash
  

  I prefer 4-4-2 stuff tonight, let van p and bendtner plays attach because, in the absence of pique and puyol bendtner is likely to have goal advantage over van p and denilson instead of diabi in the defensive mid-field

• 08-Mar-2011 13:38 | | Bash
  

  I prefer 4-4-2 stuff tonight, let van p and bendtner plays attach because, in the absence of pique and puyol bendtner is likely to have goal advantage over van p and denilson instead of diabi in the defensive mid-field

• 08-Mar-2011 14:34 | | Man United Killa  - Mean Lean?
  

  Mean Lean are you saying this is going to be our last involvement in the CL?

• 08-Mar-2011 15:18 | | luis zelaya
  

  Mean Lean, this is the most pessimistic i've seen from you. we can do it.
  i'll be 30 tommorrow, and this is what i wish for, especially after that mother fucker pep guardiola has cuestioned our manager's integrity, and disrespected our beloved jack wilshere by saying he'd welcome him at barca's reserves. he's also playing a taunting game, and being very ironic and cynical about his comments. showed his true colours the cunt, oh how i wish we spank them.

• 08-Mar-2011 17:12 | | goonerbegood  - MY FORMATION AGAINST BARCA
  

  ......................................SZCZESNY........................ ............................
  
  
  SANGNA.............SQULLACHI..............DJOUROU..................... KOS
  
  
  ...............DIABY....................WILSHERE...................... .......CLICHY
  
  
  ...................................................CESC............... .................................
  
  
  ...................NASRI............................................V. PERSIE/CHAMACK

• 08-Mar-2011 17:22 | | goonerbegood  - we must be ruthless but yet intelligent.
  

  Tonite,i wish the boys the best of games.
  If diaby plays ,he needs not to be sluggish,he needs to be agrressive
  with his play ..
  our strikers need to be clinical.we create lots of chances but yet score less goals
  our defenders must be intelligent with very min ,eyes on the ball
  
  
  our midfielders must be aggressive but yet intelligent.
  
  we must not go there thinking it will be a walk in the park
  we must not go there thinking cos we have an advantage
  we must not go there thinking about nothing else but victory
  
  we must battle like gladiators tonite,like spartacus.it is blood on sand tonite.
  
  i feel with the quality we have all over the pitch ,we can do it.
  
  we must believe in ourselves,the crowd to nite at NOU CAMP is going to do exactly what we did at the emirates, but all that should matter tonite is qualifiying for the next round.
  
  LONG LIVE THE MIGHTY ARSENAL FC

• 08-Mar-2011 17:43 | | Sobin the Indian gooner
  

  We r to be at our best to beat barca ,hope our gunners will do it .Keep faith guys.my 11
  szczesny-sagna-djourou-koscielny-clichy-diaby -wilshere-nasri-chamakh-arshavin
  Come on gunners.IN ARSENE WE TRUST

• 08-Mar-2011 17:58 | | Adams
  

  Bring.
  It.
  On.

• 08-Mar-2011 20:45 | | Macdub  - Half time
  

  Bollocks. Looks like I picked the wrong night to give up smoking weed. Me nerves are gone.

• 08-Mar-2011 20:49 | | Man United Killa
  

  CESC!!!!What the F*CK???

• 08-Mar-2011 20:50 | | dkgooner  - Oh deat
  

  They were right - it's that bloody Barca DNA again!
  Great goal - Fabregas back heel to Iniesta, on to Messi, who juggles it past Almunia. But couldn't you have waited till next season Cesc?
  Fair enough though - they were denied a perfectly good goal at the Emirates and possibly a penalty here.

• 08-Mar-2011 21:22 | | Man United Killa
  

  Its Over!!!

• 08-Mar-2011 21:29 | | jeroomme
  

  We are playing 10 man against 12 man from Barcelona (includes referee) Most of the time, the miserable referee stops play and offers a free kick to the opposition, sent off Arsenal player. It is hard playing against, not to mention that referee is easily influenced by Barcelona. He awards the penalty just because the Barce players protest.
  
  It is bad enough to have Almunia to stand between the post and it is too painful to see him making too blunder.s

• 08-Mar-2011 21:36 | | Man United Killa
  

  what are you talking about??Almunia has done well!!

• 08-Mar-2011 21:39 | | Man United Killa
  

  Bendtner!!!!what a fool!!!

• 08-Mar-2011 21:44 | | jeroomme
  

  dIABY is a liability and doesn’t have the heart to boss himself in the park and too lazy to bust his ass to get back and be a cog in the counter attack. He and almunis are rubbish.

• 08-Mar-2011 21:46 | | dkgooner
  

  Jeroomme - just STFU
  Or go somewhere else with your effing nonsense.

• 08-Mar-2011 21:55 | | dkgooner  - Cesc and RvP
  

  Sorry to say this, but the manager chose to play two players who weren't really fit, judging by their performances. But then, when you don't have the strength in depth, I guess you have to take these chances.
  The game turned out as expected with Barca totally dominant and worthy winners. The sending off was unfortunate and extremely harsh but we've just been beaten by a better side.
  Bring on United.

• 08-Mar-2011 22:01 | | Man United Killa  - what the heck??
  

  Jerome...You have to give credit where credit is due.I am not a fan of Diaby,Rosicky,and others....but I am very proud of the shift they all put in...RVP and Cesc let us down.As our top player, RVP should have kept a cool head and Cesc,Oh what a shame!!
  But I am proud of the players...Almunia did well.This only shows we are almost there..but not quite..
  Finally, the referee is a cheat...and the diving Barca bastards did their best to make a meal of every tackle..
  I love NASRI!!!!UP the Gunners...

• 08-Mar-2011 22:06 | | Man United Killa  - I like your objectivity
  

  Exactly what I have been saying.We are close...but still far.We were beaten by a better team.If we have to play at that level,we need to strengthen..
  That said,I think the players did well.Am loving Nasri more everyday.We need a few more key signings and we will be all set.
  ....yes!!Bring on United!!!lets kick some ass

• 08-Mar-2011 22:50 | | Adams
  

  Almunia did do well, really well, the others worked hard and put in an impressive defensive performance in the first half. At half-time it was all to play for and I wasn't too despondent other than about the injury to Szczesny. Djourou was immense, in the first 45 especially. Wilshere was again outstanding. I am disappointed we didn't put on more of a display attacking-wise - when do we ever not manage a shot? - but that became very difficult for obvious reasons. Fair play to Barcelona for their quality, well done to them, but we would have given them more of a game with 11 (where have I heard that before?). It was all set for Rosicky, having done all the running, to be subbed for Arshavin and for us to go for it in the last 20 to snatch a killer away goal.
  
  Bollocks.
  
  As dkgooner & MUK say, bring on United. And the Premier League please.

• 08-Mar-2011 23:11 | | Macdub
  

  Referee's a cunt. Game was there for the taking @ 11v11. How do you spell conspiracy?

• 08-Mar-2011 23:18 | | Macdub
  

  Where's ref from? Oh yeah that hotbed of quality football.................Switzerland!!! I hate toblerones.

• 09-Mar-2011 00:03 | | MeanLean
  

  Just got back from watching the game in a pub in Finsbury park.
  
  I am absolutely livid about the decision to send off Van Persie. Madness.
  
  If Barcelona were winning the game 1-0 and Van Persie had shot after the whistle then he would not have sent Van Persie off. The game had swung back in our favour and the referee had to take action.
  
  I don't care if people think I am deluded or paranoid. Look at what happened to Chelsea a few years ago at Stamford Bridge. Decision after blatant decision went against them just as it did us tonight.
  
  Barcelona received no yellow cards. NONE! Would Messi have been sent off if he shot after the referee had blown? you've got to be kidding me.
  
  There is no doubt that Barcelona were the better side and created all the chances but as we know too well, you can dominate a game and lose. We had the advantage and an away goal when Biscuits headed into his own net.
  
  We couldn't play around their pressure enough, they worked like crazy people. I hate the way they cheat and roll around but they are exceptional footballers.
  
  We defended extremely well and massive credit goes out to Djourou who was our best player by far. Koscielny again fantastic,. Jack the boy Wilshere again exceptional. Arsenal through and through already at 19. And plenty of credit must go to Manuel Almunia who once again shows his strength.
  
  We were not the team that the powers that be wanted to see in the next round, that and Barcelona's brilliance.
  
  Let us take out our frustration in the league race. We have to overcome ignored penalties for us, phantom opposition penalties and wrongly judged offside goals but we have the quality to do it.
  
  We are on our own, we are the Arsenal!

• 09-Mar-2011 02:36 | | richie  - More of the up & downs of being a Gooner
  

  First off, no doubt we were beaten by the better team on the night (18 attempts on goal against our 0) and no doubt they are are great footballing side. But the decisions against us were unbelieveable. RvP's unreal sending off once they were behind looked suspiciously like gerymandering, and I might be in a minority of one but for me even their pen was debatable.
  
  For someone of Messi's undoubtable talent his attempts to win a a free kick or pen by diving was nothing if not embarrissing, in its amateurishness. Switzerland might be nutral but the Swiss banking system is famous for being crooked. If the Swiss Ref wasn't paid then therein lies the problem, he came too cheap, because he certainly made it look like he was.
  
  Barca are undoubtably the favourites of the powers that be, (some of us still recall the Barca- Chelsea match of yester year) so for the sake of being reasonable lets assume the Ref was just subconsiously unduly inflenced eh? Arsene and the team should use their undoubted sense of injustice to good use in. 1st our next game, Man'uer in the FA, but more importantly to push forward in the league.

• 09-Mar-2011 02:55 | | richie
  

  Can't disagree with that dkg but we'll never know how fit RvP is/was because he hardly saw enough of the ball to make any kind of judgement. Cesc? Likewise he was never in possession long enough like the rest of our midfield to judge. Only Jack can be judged in that he kept trying even without the ball. I'll only say I am proud of the team because their heads didn't drop.

• 09-Mar-2011 03:49 | | luis zelaya
  

  finally mean lean, finally i see you acknowledge that something wrong IS happening. 0 shots on goal, give me a f*cking break, to their 19, so f*cking what? a draw got us through, and we would have had it, i'm sure, because the game plan all along was the same as the first game, play the offside trap, sit tight and hope to get a chance to counter, and in the final 15 - 20 minutes when they are tired, shift gears and kill them. but... the goal as it seems came too soon, and so did the refs reaction. after van persie gets sent off it is most certainly game over at the 56th minute, so of course we won't have our 20 minutes of glory at the end, and their goals are just a matter of time, and even so they got a penalty which you knew was coming.
  ridiculous, embarrassing. when they can't do the job the ref does it for them. i say it again, whilst that cunt platini is in seat, it will be hard for us or anyone other than barcelona to win in europe, especially english sides, especially us. possible yes, but very hard, just wait and see if they don't get help getting to the finals, wait for the 'draw' coming next friday and laugh when they get picked against shaktar.
  they certainly are good, but not that good, since they get all the help in the world, and especially since playing well does not guarantee victory, unless you're barca of course. fuck them. and after all that talk of barcelona dna and whatnot, they boo and whistle when cesc comes out... now there's a lesson for him. compare that to the ovation eduardo got when he scored at the emirates on a different shirt.
  nothing but praise came out of the gunners camp previous to the game, and all PEP did was question the integrity of our manager, and compared wilshere to some of barca's reserves.
  oh how i hate the bastards, and i'm not a madrid fan either.
  now only mourinho or ferguson can stop them, and i hope they do.
  what a fucked up birthday it is for me.

• 09-Mar-2011 04:01 | | jeroomme
  

  Well, my view is to have a good back four and goalie. We cannot win trophies without a good confident goalkeeper.
  
  Another thing, there is no defensive midfielder to protect them since Song is injured. Tell me, how long are we prepared to endure this farce; How much of the defensive problems were roots down to them just not talking to each other, and man marking. You cannot defend by switching off communication and deny space .
  
  Diaby and Rosicky . Where were they in the field? They are not able to raise their game to its highest level. They are real flops - cannot pass and tackle. No impact in the midfield. When the ball is given away and Diaby and Rosicky just stand there not even bothering to try and win it back. Most of the time, Diaby dilly dallies on the ball, does turns with the ball with complicated control when no one is pressuring him thus beating no one but slowing himself,

• 09-Mar-2011 04:04 | | jeroomme
  

  You can kiss their ass if you want. I will switch off my TV when these players are playing.

• 09-Mar-2011 04:09 | | jeroomme
  

  WTF, cunt face I am not asking your advice Stop blowing hot air and make a dig. DKGOONER - what have you contributed and please really tell me - I am keen to know?

• 09-Mar-2011 04:31 | | jeroomme
  

  How can you say Persie let you down? He simply took a shot after being flagged for offside. My point is very simple , it is very hard to play against Barcelona witth 10 man. All in all, it fail to meet expectations . Second point, Arsenal play below par much from this game, the players did not get a chance to pass the ball around and they always failed to meet expectations and
  
  Finally, let move on and the players need to pick themselves up and put all their effort into winning the remaining league matches.
  
  Hot blower DKgonner what is the best approach ? Can I hear you?

• 09-Mar-2011 04:45 | | jeroomme
  

  Well, does your mother always tell you to STFU because you always behave like one talking effing nonsense to her.
  Calling you stupid would be an insult to all stupid people.

• 09-Mar-2011 06:57 | | luis zelaya  - the penalty
  

  oh and did anyone see? first he gave a goal kick, but when the barcelona players started complaining, he just changed his mind. oh, it was a penalty? penalty then, and then he pointed to the spot.
  
  but, for that one i'm grateful, with 10 men, going to extra time would have done much more harm to the squad, so thankfully we were spared of that.
  
  i mean, even in spain, consensus amongst most people that are not a cule is that arsenal were wronged, and comparisons are made to what tom obrevo did to chelsea last year.

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