6:45am KO I think.

[size=6]Preview: Arsenal - Barcelona[/size]

By Richard Clarke

The day before the draw for the Champions League Knockout Round back in December, Arsène Wenger left his usual press conference with a knowing smirk on his face.

The Arsenal manager said he knew, just knew, the team his side would face – but would not reveal their identity. The prevailing presumption was Barcelona and, less than 24 hours later, the Spanish champions were duly delivered.

That self-same smirk returned at the end of his media work on the eve of the first leg at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday. Wenger was wished good luck as he rose from his chair.

“Thanks,” he smiled. “We’ll need it.”

The Frenchman is not given to playing a subservient role in the build-up to a major match. But this time he has lavished fulsome, unfettered praise on his opponents. The best in Europe, the best in the world and possibly the best ever – all have been offered by Wenger.

Pep Guardiola has ventured down the same road when he has spoken to the media. The Barca manager admits he did not want Arsenal in the draw. They can ‘leave you chasing shadows’. They ‘worry’ him.

Despite winning a stunning Quarter-Final tie 6-3 on aggregate last season, it is understandable.

Barca were bewilderingly good for the first 30 minutes at Emirates Stadium in February 2010 but only grabbed their two goals when the storm was calming at the start of the second half. By that time, Arsenal had lost Andrey Arshavin and William Gallas to injury. The introduction of Theo Walcott turned the tide and, by the end, the visitors were clinging on to a 2-2 draw.

Arsenal took the lead in the return game however Lionel Messi then ran in four goals as Barca cantered home. It was a humbling, chastening experience.

“Last year was not the real Arsenal in the first game,” said Wenger. “We lost Arshavin after 30 minutes and Gallas at half-time, so we had already made two changes. We also lost Fabregas in the last minute so went into the second game with three key players not fit.”

The manager forgot to mention Robin van Persie and Alex Song were also missing at the Nou Camp.

But Wenger admits there are no such excuses this season. Yes, they will be without Bacary Sagna (suspended), Abou Diaby (calf) and Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) but Samir Nasri (hamstring) and Tomas Rosicky (groin) are back. For mid-February that is a relatively fit squad.

Meanwhile, on the tactical side, the Arsenal manager will stick to his principles – press and pass, press and pass. Of course, Barcelona are kindred spirits and utterly out-Arsenaled them last term but the Frenchman argues that if his team are to overcome Guardiola’s team they must beat them at their own game.

Inter did manage to knockout Barca in the following round last season by ‘parking the bus’ but Wenger argues his finely-honed side can not shift gear that easily.

“Of course we want to nullify Barcelona’s strengths because it will be different for us on Wednesday,” said the 61-year-old. “If you want us to play long balls and long throw-ins it would be worse than playing our own game. For example, if you ask Wilshere to head the ball it will be a problem for him.

“Usually we have 60 per cent of the ball and our opponents have 40 per cent, or maybe 70 per cent and 30 per cent. This time it might be a little bit the other way. So when we defend we have to defend with calmness and determination. But when we have the ball we have to play our own game.

“We will have to work very hard without the ball too. The focus on defending well will be vital, as we know that when we have the ball we can cause them problems. They will give us problems as well, so it’s just important we do our defensive job very well.

“I would not deny this Barcelona are one of the best teams ever, but my team wants to show we can beat them. I believe personally that we can do it.

“Barcelona are certainly the team to beat if you want to be the best and that’s our target. They’re the best club team I’ve ever faced.”

Captain Carlos Puyol is missing with a knee injury. This means Eric Abidal is likely to move to centre back and Maxwell will come in at left back. It is positive news for Arsenal. The Brazilian was terrorised by Theo Walcott in the final 30 minutes at Emirates Stadium last season – arguably the only real dominance the London side enjoyed throughout the tie.

And, whisper it quietly, but Wenger thinks his winger is better 12 months on.

“Theo has improved tremendously as a football player this year,” said the Frenchman. “He is different in his links with the other players. His movement is sharper and his finishing is sharper. He looks like he’s less nervous and much more relaxed.

“For me he’s made a big leap forward in the last six months and improved tremendously. He’s now a regular player in our team. Nobody wonders if he will play on Wednesday or not. You know that I will start him. That has played a big part in his mind as well. He was at the World Cup at the age of 16 so everyone forgets he is only 21. At that age other players are just starting their careers.”

Wenger believes that Barca’s first-half performance at Emirates Stadium was the best he has ever witnessed – and that the Catalans have only got better since then!

However he also argues his side have developed massively aswell.

Therefore the relative growth rates may be the determining factors in this tie.

But then, is this actually the same Arsenal side? The team that started in the 2-2 draw was Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Song, Fabregas, Nasri, Diaby, Arshavin and Bendtner. Only six of those can start on Wednesday and the actual figure may be more like four.

Meanwhile the bench at the Nou Camp included Eastmond, Merida, Traore, Eduardo and a semi-fit Sol Campbell. While the out-of-favour Mikael Silvestre was left to face Messi. The little maestro had been subdued at Emirates but exploded at the Nou Camp and, in all honesty, toyed with an injury-ravaged Arsenal in the second half.

It was painful, faintly crushing and yet, at the same time, you appreciated it. Football may be innately tribal but sometimes you just have to applaud. Arsenal did not lose that night, they were beaten.

Form, fitness and fortune simply did not favour Wenger’s men throughout a wonderful 180 minutes last season. Undoubtedly they are stronger and wiser this term but have they bridged that gaping divide?

Whatever the answer, it will be wonderful finding out.
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3349242/first-team/arsenal-v-fc-barcelona?tab=preview

I went in telling myself I wasn't worried if we went out as it would mean a clean run at the Premier League title with less mid week games than United but now I'm feeling really good about the return leg

Like I said if you make the final it's all worth it and it's no surprise that most of the time the team that wins it wins their league what with all the confidence boost and everything, but anything between the Round of 16 and the final is a waste and just fucks with your season.

[size=6]Review: Arsenal 2-1 Barcelona[/size]

By Richard Clarke at Emirates Stadium

Impossible is nothing.

Two goals within five minutes deep into the second half of this exhilarating Champions League encounter turned the tide decisively towards Arsenal.

Barcelona were brilliant in the first half. David Villa threaded them in front but throughout the 45 minutes they wove a wonderful tapestry of passes. As they had 12 months ago, Arsenal looked lost.

Little changed in the second half until, 12 minutes from time, Robin van Persie crashed home a cross-shot from an incredible angle. In the 83rd minute, Samir Nasri set up substitute Andrey Arshavin to slot home the winner.

It was a stunning comeback and almost certainly Arsenal’s greatest victory at Emirates Stadium.

Arsène Wenger’s men still have a mammoth task on their hands at the Nou Camp in three weeks time. But they now know they can battle with the best and win.

If they can complete the job in Barcelona, then who knows what they can do.

All eyes were on Arsenal’s No 8 pre-match. When the team-sheets came out he was listed in the team and not on the bench. It was his first appearance since limping off with a hamstring injury against Huddersfield on January 30.

The only other change was enforced. Bacary Sagna was suspended after his dismissal in the final minute of the final group game back in December. Emmanuel Eboue took up the right back role.

Emirates Stadium was a sea of flags as the two teams came out. The club had put one on every seat and, as usual, the crowd responded wonderfully.

Arsenal may have played Barcelona in last season’s Quarter-Final but the novelty, nor the excitement, had worn off.

This was massive.

The early moments were more frantic than finessed. Everyone expected a reprise of that toe-to-toe slugfest last season – except this time the hope was that Arsenal would not take all the early punches squarely on the chin.

And they did not. In fact, they bossed the opening 10 minutes.

Theo Walcott was the spearhead. He sprinted through the midfield in the fourth minute before trying to set up Van Persie on the right of the area. The Dutchman was wrongly called offside.

Then the winger cut in from the right and a Fabregas chip found Van Persie momentarily free at the far post. The Dutchman hooked his shot goalward but Victor Valdes blocked.

Barcelona had been quiet until now. But having dampened Arsenal’s early spark they started to press and hold a higher defensive line.

It soon produced a clear chance. In the 15th minute, Lionel Messi was released by Villa to go one-on-one with Wojciech Szczesny. The little maestro clipped his shot past the keeper but it drifted inches past the far post.

The chance was a reminder of Barcelona’s quicksilver capabilities – like anyone needed one.

By now the visitors had snatched control. Villa whipped in a dangerous cross from the right, Messi chipped the ball into the hands of Szczesny. Arsenal were giving the ball away and struggling to hold them off.

The home side needed a release – and, in the 25th minute, Walcott found them one.

After a Barcelona attack broke down, he sprinted clear and, with the visitors stretched, found Fabregas on the right of the area. His cross seemed destined for the head of the unmarked Van Persie at the far post only for Eric Abidal to nod the ball clear at the last second.

It was Arsenal’s best chance but it did not stem the tide. Quite the opposite in fact.

In the 26th minute, Messi scuttled past Alex Song in midfield and split the Arsenal defence to release Villa. The striker tucked away a simple shot through the keeper’s legs.

Arsenal had been picked apart.

The striker nearly grabbed an immediate second when Daniel Alves found him at the near post. Somehow Arsenal smuggled the ball away.

But Barcelona’s high line did leave them liable to the counter-attack when, on the rare occasion, they lost the ball. There was one example on the half-hour when Jack Wilshere strode forward to set up Van Persie. The Dutchman slashed his shot wide.

But these were snatched opportunities. Barcelona were bullying Arsenal with their passing and movement.

Seven minutes from the whistle, Messi bundled home a close-range header from Pedro’s pass. Thankfully he was flagged offside.

At half-time, there was a strange comparison to make with last season’s game.

Arsenal had been more over-run 12 months ago but this time they were trailing and, on the balance of play, it might have been worse.

Wenger clearly roused his side at the interval because they were better immediately after the restart. Wilshere had an effort saved by Valdes and Van Persie fired over. Territorially Arsenal were on top but they were not creating too much.

This time, it was Barcelona who were playing on the break. In the 56th minute, Pedro went clear and tumbled under the challenge of Koscielny. If it was a penalty then it was a red card too and, probably, game over.

Replays fully justified the referee’s decision to wave play on.

Nasri’s low cross towards Van Persie at the near post was slid away from danger at the last second.

However, we reached the midway point of the second half, Barcelona were once again turning the screw. Messi danced through only to see his shot blocked. Eboue returned the ball immediately to Andreas Iniesta who slid the Argentinean into space on the left of the area. He could only find the sidenetting.

In the 68th minute, Wenger withdrew Song for Arshavin. It was an attacking move but the Cameroonian had been on a knife-edge since receiving a yellow card in the first five minutes and Arsenal were struggling with 11 men let alone 10.

Nicklas Bendtner came on for Walcott 10 minutes later.

The game seemed to be drifting to its conclusion now. Barcelona were happy enough with 1-0 and Arsenal were struggling create anything close to a clear-cut chance.

Then lightning struck. Gael Clichy clipped a nonchalant ball to Van Persie on the left-hand byline. The angle was impossibly acute and Gerard Pique was on patrol. However Vales had drifted away from his post and the Dutcman let fly. The ball kissed the near post and flew just inside the far. Stunning.

Like last year, an Arsenal goal suddenly belittled Barcelona. The home side flew into their task and, five minutes later, lighting struck again.

Nasri flew down the right and, with Barcelona undermanned, he showed sufficient poise to settle himself and picked out Arshavin at the far post.

Cool as you like, the Russian found the far corner.

Bendtner saw an angled show batted away by Valdes. Szczesny saved similarly from Pedro at the other end.

The home held their nerve for a famous win. Barcelona were the more beautiful side on the night but Arsenal had the victory.

This was a turnaround in every sense.

Roll on the return leg.
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3349242/first-team/arsenal-v-fc-barcelona?tab=report

[size=6]Preview: Leyton Orient - Arsenal[/size]

By Richard Clarke

Barcelona to Brisbane Road. With every respect to Leyton Orient, it is one hell of a leap.

Arsenal have to travel precisely 5.7 miles across London on Sunday for this feisty-looking FA Cup Fifth Round tie. If their minds are still full of Xavi, Iniesta and Messi rather than McGleish, Revell and Dawson then much of that good work in midweek will be left tainted.

Cup shocks are a two-headed coin – complacency on one side, commitment on the other - and certainly the ingredients are all there this weekend.

Arsène Wenger has never lost to lower League opposition in 25 ties over 15 years at Arsenal. Part of the secret is respect for and research on your opponent. He was knee-deep in the latter when he spoke to the media on Friday lunchtime.

"We always try to prepare properly,” he said. “That gives you a guarantee to be at a certain level but, of course, it does not guarantee that you qualify.

"This is the charm of the game. To be successful in the end, you need to go through in these kinds of matches. It is a mental test of how much we want to win. If you want to win, you have to play well at Orient.

“We have had reports of their games and we watched them a little bit against MK Dons. They have a good left back and they have a striker who looks dangerous, Alex Revell. So you see we always look after our opponent.

“To be fair I have had no time [since Barcelona to find out about Orient]. We watched 30 minutes of the first half against MK Dons and I will watch the rest this afternoon.”

Incredibly, Johan Djourou was ruled out on Thursday but will now start if fit. Sebastien Squillaci will certainly return, Bacary Sagna is back from his ban but Abou Diaby’s suspension continues.

"Djourou has a test on Saturday,” said Wenger. “I will play Squillaci and then will see about whether to play Laurent Koscielny or Johan Djourou. Koscielny finished quite exhausted so if I have the choice I will choose Djourou."

With a crucial Premier League game on Wednesday and the Carling Cup Final next Sunday, the manager added that he would certainly shuffle his side. The question is, to what extent.

Arsenal have just started a spell of five games inside 17 crucial days. If they draw against Orient the replay will make it six.

By the end of that period, they could have won their first trophy in six years and pulled off arguably their greatest ever European victory. There are also a couple of Premier League games too – drop anything significant in those and Manchester United may be out of reach.

It is the most significant phase of the season since… well… the last really significant one. That is not to be flippant about the next fortnight or so but, in reality, we hope it is merely a gateway to greater things.

On Friday, Wenger too rallied against the hyperbola.

“It is an important period but, no matter what happens in the next two weeks, we can only think about the next game,” he said. “That is the best way to approach it because we want to win all four games.

“I am never looking backwards and never too far forward. The result of the next game can influence things. If you have a big disappointment, it will affect all the other games. You gain confidence slowly but lose it quickly. So to keep it high it is important to take care of the next game."

Leyton Orient have hovered just above the dropzone in League One for most of this season but their 2011 form has lifted them within sight of the Play-Offs. Russell Slade’s side are unbeaten in their last 11 games and have not lost at Brisbane Road since September. They won at Norwich in the Third Round and at Swansea in the Fourth Round to reach the last 16 for the first time in 29 years.

Though near neighbours, the teams have met just ten times. Orient’s last victories came in 1913 and 1915, the last meeting came in the FA Cup Semi-Final of 1978 when a brace from Malcolm MacDonald helped secure a 3-0 win for Terry Neill’s team.

“I have been to Orient,” recalled Wenger. “We played a friendly with Arsenal there in a pre-season game. Currently they have Ben Chorley, a former Arsenal player and Jason Crowe who played here when I arrived first.

“They have a side on a good run at the moment so they are dangerous for us. Believe me, I have no doubt they will be up for it.

"There is history in England no matter where you go. No matter what happened before we will want to go there and win the game. We are on a very strong run and everybody will watch the game with a lot of interest. We will see how much Leyton Orient can do against us.”

Surely that depends on what Arsenal do themselves.
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3365073/first-team/leyton-orient-v-arsenal?tab=preview

[size=6]Szczesny - I want to be No 1 for a decade[/size]

By Giuseppe Muro

Wojciech Szczesny wants to be Arsenal's No 1 goalkeeper for the next ten years.

Since being thrust into the spotlight for his Premier League debut at Old Trafford in December, the confident 20-year-old has made the position his own following injuries to both Lukasz Fabianski and Manuel Almunia.

Szczesny has deputised impeccably in his own self-assured way and, while knowing there will be stiff competition, the Pole wants to be first choice for many years to come.

"That's my target really [a decade], that's my goal," said the stopper. "I would love to [do that] but I know I have a few others that want to have the No 1 shirt.

"I'm going to have to be at my very best to keep it. If I am given the chance to stay the No 1 I would be very happy to [continue].

"There is very good competition at the Club so I can't say there is no threat. I know that I have to be at my very best because if there is any slip up or drop in my performance, other goalkeepers will be happy to take my place.

"I can't demand playing time at a Club like this being 20-year-old. I know that when my chance came I had to take it with both hands and try to take the No 1 spot."

Szczesny may be rested for Sunday's FA Cup Fifth Round tie against Leyton Orient but knows the League One side should not be taken lightly after Wednesday's incredible win over Barcelona.

"It's the FA Cup, it always has something special about it and lower League teams seem to do very well," he added. "We are going to have to be focused and be at our best to make sure that we get through.

"We just want to win every single game, every game is the most important. Yes we beat Barcelona and we are very happy but we are going to have to focus on Leyton Orient and treat every game in the same way.

"We are Arsenal Football Club and we are favourites in most of the games we play, we have to make sure we are focused.

"I played against Orient [when I was at Brentford], I actually kept a clean sheet and we won 1-0, so I'm hoping for a good result at the weekend."
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/szczesny-i-want-to-be-no-1-for-a-decade

He is the reason we didn't buy a keeper, because if we did he would have bee 3rd choice and left and there is no way Wenger was going to let that happen. The only reason he didn't get a run earlier is because Wenger couldn't drop Fabianski, otherwise Szczesny would have been playing a lot earlier.