On Tuesday evening, Arsenal have the daunting task of facing the defending UEFA Champions League champions and their dreaded ‘MSN’ trio.
If they are to pull off the improbable, the Gunners will have to heed Arsene Wenger’s call for total team ‘focus.’ As reported by the club’s official website, Wenger said hailed Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.
The dynamic trio ave led Barcelona to the Emirates having scored 91 goals across all competitions.
I know that individually MSN have exceptional talent. The only way we can beat them is collectively. Resilience, great solidarity, intelligence as well.
Barcelona’s arrival comes on the heels of Arsenal’s recent 0-0 FA Cup draw to Championship side Hull City. Wenger offered his perspective to those who point to that futile effort as a precursor to this match-up against Barca.
It’s more difficult to prepare for Hull than it is for Barcelona. Against Barcelona, everyone is focused.
Tomorrow, everyone is convinced that we need to be totally focused to have a chance and that’s what I try to raise. Belief, confidence, let’s go for it.
He went on to praise Barcelona, who have eliminated the Gunners from the round of 16 during the 2009/2010, 2010/2011 campaigns as well as the UCL final in 2006.
Of course, our world is not perfect, no team is perfect.
Barcelona aren’t far from it but we must use every moment in the game that we have to chance to score. Against Hull, we had much of the ball but did not make the most of it. Against Barcelona we will not have as much of the ball but we will need to more of it.
However, the one ace Wenger has up his sleeve, comes in the form of goalkeeper, Petr Cech.
On eight occasions, the big Czech International has managed to keep five-time FIFA World Player of the Year, Lionel Messi, off the score sheet, which Wenger hopes will give him an edge.
I hope that will give Cech a lot of confidence and will keep [Messi] quiet.
I hope that he will have a little complex and the history will play for us and against Messi.
Besides hoping Cech will keep Arsenal in the match, it should be noted that Arsenal have risen to the occasion this season during this competition. Back in October, with their hopes of advancing past the group stage a pipe dream, Arsenal pulled off an unlikely 2-0 victory against Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich.
And lest we forget, nearly six years ago to the day, Barcelona came to London the favorite in that Champions League match-up.
YouTube: Arshavin vs Barcelona Martin tyler commentary (No effects or songs)
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