Now into April, the business end of the season is approaching, and Barcelona well know it, as the pressure slowly begins to build on Pep Guardiola’s side. They would not have it any other way, with Saturday’s potentially season-defining Clasico following swiftly on the heels of Tuesday night’s Champions League quarter-final affair against Arsenal.
Guardiola will feel his side should be out of sight in this tie. Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave la Blaugrana what seemed a decisive 2-0 advantage over their Premier League rivals at the Emirates Stadium last Wednesday night. The Gunners staged a remarkable comeback, with goals from Theo Walcott and Cesc Fabregas forcing them back into the tie.
Despite this rather uncharacteristic lapse, Barca remain confident. “It was very unusual, we could have won well but in the end we drew, but in Europe a draw is never bad. It will be easier to finish the tie at home,” Thierry Henry told AS after the first leg.
Seydou Keita was somewhat more bullish, indicating: “We have played a very good game and under normal conditions would have won 5-2. But that's football and now we have a big game with it all to win at home. We did everything but we lacked the final victory.”
Barca bounced back impressively on Saturday evening, defeating awkward foes Athletic Bilbao 4-1, leaving Guardiola to ruminate on a fine success, which was achieved without a number of first team regulars. “In recent matches I have been very pleased, because the team have played with great intensity and put a lot of pressure on our opponents,” the coach told the press. “We need everyone at the Camp Nou. We must treat the Arsenal match as if it were a final.”
The European champions are well versed in progressing after securing an away draw. Indeed, all of their knockout road fixtures en route to the final last term ended in 1-1 ties, with Camp Nou proving a veritable fortress on the continent.
Still Believing
Arsenal’s 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium last weekend prompted a mixed response from manager Arsene Wenger, who was largely pleased with the manner in which his side approached the game, but was also a little disappointed with the way his side allowed their opponents to break into a two-goal advantage.
Speaking after last Wednesday’s match, the Frenchman told ITV: “My regret tonight, and I don't deny we played a great side, was that we gave two cheap goals away. For me, we had 70 minutes where we had every chance to win, which is what I told the players. But the way we gave away the goals today was beyond understanding.”
Though the manager was left lamenting the scoreline, winger Theo Walcott was in optimistic mood after his second half introduction helped to change the game. “It's going to be a tough game,” he said. “They have fantastic home support and they keep the ball very well, which frustrates us. However, I believe if we get an early goal and upset the fans, we have a chance.”
For long periods during Saturday’s Premier League encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers it seemed that it would be the Gunners who would be frustrated as their dogged opponents clung desperately onto a 0-0 scoreline. Minus influential playmaker Cesc Fabregas, it looked set to be a regretful afternoon for the 2006 Champions League finalists.
With time ticking away, late goal specialists Arsenal found an injury time winner through Nicklas Bendtner’s header, keeping them in touch at the summit of the English top flight and providing them with fine momentum going into what promises to be the toughest game of their campaign.
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