The Great Escape, Episode 5; Barcelona Part 4

Now then, as you would imagine I was nothing but distressed when I heard the news that Arsenal were going to do another great escape episode,

 against some Catalonian team, called FC Barcelona.  Except Barcelona is not just any small team, they’re not some team either. They are THE team, who just became European Champions earlier this year (could be become world champions over the weekend). Oh and their front 3 not much to handle eh? Got a pintsize argentine who’s on the run from taxes, someone who used to think biting was fun and an actor who cries if he’s hit by a feather. That should be a piece of cake for Arsenal right? Right? (Note if this front 3 existed, I’m sure Arsene Wenger would be laughing himself into next year, only to be knocked out again.) Okay let’s be serious here, this a front 3 no one wants to face right now. Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar Jr otherwise known as MSN, is a defender’s nightmare (or dream, depends on how you look at it).   

Despite all of this, I do believe that there is a slim chance we can make it. It’s not impossible by all means; improbable is perhaps a better way to look at it. I mean lets think about it, the last time Arsenal beat Barcelona; they had Eboue, Djourou, Clichy and Bendtner on the pitch. If they can win with those guys on the pitch what’s to stop us now?? We’ve improved significantly since we faced those guys, there’s no one to back heel a pass to Iniesta this time nor is there a player to bottle a chance this time either (actually we still have Gi- never mind you see my point). We’ve got a whole plethora of players to count on now, Alexis, Mesut Ozil, Santi Carzola, Francis Coquelin and Petr Cech who improved the squad as a whole. I can’t forget either that the Catalans have also improved their team quite nicely, adding to Suarez and Neymar to the mix, replacing Rakitic with Cesc which was quite a sensational move for them.

Not only that, I think our home performance against Bayern Munich who are arguably the best team in Europe right now, was pretty commendable. We’ve managed to beat Barcelona before when they had a peak David Villa, Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol etc so what is it to stop us this time? As they say, “If you want to be the best then you’ve got to beat the best” and what better team to that to prove our credentials to? Obviously, I understand that most Arsenal fans would like to go out and focus on the premier league, however there’s no harm in having a go and making another run to the final like we did in 2006. Obviously we need key players fit and maybe an addition in the window if we are to even mount a challenge against Barca otherwise we can kiss our dreams goodbye. Surely Arsene Wenger will want to bow out with a European trophy as well?

Barcelona. Impossible? No. Difficult? Very. Will we bottle it? We shall wait and see in February. Until then no major injuries over the Christmas period, then we can start dreaming.

Over and out.

@BethelMoyo @football_dugout