Prior to the gigantic clash at the Nou Camp, Barca midfielder Javier Mascherano reminded Arsenal to be prepared for another 'Messi Show' that could ultimately destroy the Gunners. But last night never looked like a Messi night.
Messi would have been stuck in Wenger's mind throughout the plane journey to Spain as memories of last year's catastrophic night at the Nou Camp lingered. Not forgetting Xavi and Iniesta in the midfield, Wenger would have definitely encountered sleepless nights.
While the Gunners did triumph at the Emirates three weeks ago, it was not before Barcelona displayed their sheer brilliance. The Blaugrana were even in front first before Arsenal cemented two goals in the second half. Therefore, it was always going to be a mountain to climb for Arsene Wenger and his troops- especially when they had to face Barcelona at the Nou Camp. But strangely, that wasn't the case last night.
How Samir Nasri and Tomas Rosicky Changed the Dynamics Of The Tie
When Jose Mourinho did the unthinkable last season- which was defeating Barcelona in the Champions League semi final, the 'Special One' was accused of incredible defensive mentality and how he 'parked the bus' at the Nou Camp. But for some, it wasn't a surprise though because that looked like the only alternative for a team to stop Barcelona.
We keep on discussing about the barriers to success in football. Well, people couldn't identify the barriers to defeat Barcelona. Defensive approach seemed like the only option for any teams looking to defeat Barcelona.
However, when two of the best attacking teams in the world face each other, there was never going to be a defensive approach from either team. When asked whether Arsenal would look to preserve their score at the Nou Camp, Arsene Wenger replied: "It's also not the personality of this team. We will try to score when we get the ball back."
With Walcott out injured, Arshavin was expected to start on the left with Nasri on the right. But the 'Professor' had other plans on his mind and started with Rosicky on the right and Nasri on the left. This two players totally changed the dynamics of the game.
We all know Barcelona have a tradition of playing in the opposition half and how their fullbacks would bombard forward just to give that extra man for them to pass the ball too. Nasri and Rosicky attacked Barcelona on the wings but did their fair share of defending when Dani Alves or even Adriano attacked down the wide areas. This was absolutely crucial as Arsenal managed to keep Barcelona at bay for prolonged period of the first half until and unexpected error from Cesc Fabregas allowed Barca to capitalize and take the lead.
Considering that Cesc Fabregas wasn't influential in the first half, some other players had to take on that role. Nevertheless, these two players were pretty impressive in the first half and their tactical awareness on the pitch minimized clear-cut chances for the Catalans before the break.
The Ridiculous Early Bath For Robin Van Persie
While Barcelona did take the lead after dominating the first half, Arsene Wenger must have rallied his troops during half time as they came back strongly in the second half. Unsurprisingly, they got a goal after Sergio Busquets headed the ball into his own net.
And then came the moment of controversy. Robin Van Persie- who was already booked in the first half for a foul on Dani Alves, was shown a second yellow for ignoring the referee's whistle.
Van Persie was played through by a ball but he was ruled offside immediately. While the referee blew the whistle, Van Persie continued his run and shot wide of the goal- drawing jeers from the Barcelona fans. He was shown the red card, much to the surprise of everyone. It was a big match and the last thing anyone had wished for was a sending off for something rather nonsensical.
Van Persie protested that he simply couldn't hear the whistle go, but the referee was having none of it and Arsenal were down to ten men. Replays even suggested that one second was all the difference between the whistle and van Persie's shot- an evidence that made the decision look even more ridiculous. The red card effectively brought an end to a very bright start in the second half.
While Arsenal prepared themselves for a major battle against Barcelona in the first half, this sending off was a major blow for the Gunners. While beating Barcelona was always going to be difficult, doing it with ten men was obviously going to be impossible.
Barcelona used their numerical advantage to perfection by notching two goals that sealed the win for them.
Disappointments After Disappointments: What's Next For The Wounded Gunners
Not too long ago, Arsenal were looking very strong in all four competitions that they were in. A 2-1 triumph over Barcelona at the Emirates was the pinnacle of it all. But things have deteriorated for the Gunners in recent weeks.
The Carling Cup final was the perfect chance for Arsenal to end their trophy-less run for the past six years. But they crumbled to a mistake when it all mattered and Birmingham seized the cup away from their hands. It looked gloomy for Arsene Wenger's boys but he insisted that it would be a test of character for them.
True enough, Arsenal bounced back from that disaster with a 5-0 win over Leyton Orient in the FA Cup. However, they failed to find the net against Sunderland and when hopes for a Champions League crown was high at the Emirates, they were undone by a silky Barcelona.
Now is the real test of character for the young Gunners. Criticism over their maturity has always been there and now would be the perfect time for them to prove. While they did lose to Barcelona, Arsenal were never wiped off the field. They were only DEFEATED by a club regarded as the best in the business.
What is next for Arsenal? With their Carling Cup and Champions League campaigns all ending in disappointments, a trip to Old Trafford awaits them this weekend. A match against Manchester United that could very well be of two extremes. A win against the league leaders and things will be much better for the Gunners.
But another loss would see them being dumped out of the FA Cup and it could very well be the last blow for the already wounded Arsenal players.
Now, the FA Cup and the Premier League are the only options for Arsenal to end their barren run without silverware. And with United also suffering from two back to back defeats, Arsenal could choose to heap more misery on their rivals or they could be the masters of their own downfall.
