Apr 1, 2010
Honours Even at The Emirates, Arsenal -2, Barca - 2
A spectacular last twenty minutes performance by Arsenal inspired by Theo walcott saw Barca relinquishing a healthy two goal lead and eventually drawing the game. Everyone thought that two second half goals from Ibrahimovic were enough for Barca to seal the tie but late goals from Walcott and Fabregas left the honours even at Emirates. This draw has made the second leg tie at the Camp Nou very interesting; Barca hold a upper hand with the two away goals, but as I have posted earlier those may amount to nothing as Arsenal will be coming out in full force to attack Barca. To complicate matters, Barca will be without their regular choice centre defenders for the second leg. Pique was shown a yellow card which makes him ineligible for the second leg, whereas Puyol was shown a straight red. Arsenal also has Cesc Fabregas suspended for the second leg. To the build up of this game I have emphasised on the need to stay focussed on the task, but after the second goal we took the eye of the game and that resulted in the draw. Guardiola has been experimenting with his 4-2-3-1 formation for long. He employed the same tactic in this match also. I have many times expressed that such a tactic puts under immense pressure on counter, and I was proven right in last twenty minutes. The formation worked for the first half an hour as Arsenal was struggling to get into the game, but eventually they adapted and kept Messi out of the game by closing him down. In such a formation it is easy to do that. It is necessary for the team to start with the customary 4-3-3 formation in the second leg, so that we can use the width of the pitch. Guardiola started witha squad as expected. Alves, Puyol, Pique and Maxwell lined up in the defense. Xavi and Toure played in the midfield and ahead of them was the triangle of Keita, Messi and Pedro and Ibrahimovic further up.
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