I just really want to know what are the "breaking points" of Barca. Where should Arsenal hit in order to win the game(s). We all can simply say "haha what are u talking about, Arsenal should just give up already". No, leave this thread then.

Barca are obviously 90/10 to go through, but as I said what are the keys to beat Barca? Which players should definitely start from Arsenal?

I just think (kinda obvious) that our finishing must be more than on point. Unfortunately we don't have any guys who can bag consistently goals at the moment. I do not rate Barca's defense AT ALL.

Sorry to keep it "from Arsenal's perspective", because there's not too much to speculate from Barca's perspective. They know what to do & have kept doing it the whole season.

Personally I think Arsenal can do this if they believe in themselves. They just need to prevent Barcelona from dominating them in Emirates and bang 2-3 goals with a clean sheet and then park the bus in Camp Nou. I know it is really hard to stop MSN but it is football and anything can happen.

Arsenal could add some backup to their squad but they did not and Barcelona got the transfer ban off their backs so they are free to play the way they like. Only way I can see this work is if they get the advantage of Barcelona's weak link which for me is Pique. IF Celta Vigo scored 4 Arsenal can score 8, but then again Barcelona was forged stronger after that defeat.

I think Arsenal should play under 4-2-3-1 to get the defensive advantage of the 2 CDM's that back up their defense.

Barcelona just needs to unleash Messi, Suarez and Neymar with their majestic midfield to supply them infront.

Barcelona will advance and I personally think only Arsenal is to blame by not getting a higher quality striker than Giroud.
My prediction on the 1st leg will be 1-3 or 1-2 for Barcelona unless Barcelona does not perform to their standards.

Edit: Please Arsenal don't bend over on the 1st leg and fight only on the 2nd one you must win this not because it is Barcelona but because you need to advance further in this cup. Wenger deserves it.

i agree with JozeMourinho.. but park the bus at camp nou.. that is a Hard task.. Arsenal need to secure a win with a clean sheet at emirates the play 10-0-0 at camp nou.. XD we barely have less then 15% chance to go through if we based on squad strength but i will keep on believing.. COYG!

edit : forgot.. we got cech.. maybe we can qualify to the next round.. :)

I hope arsenal wins.

Its football, if Las palmas can give barca a run for their money, than i think Arsenal can even give a better fight. Plus they had their match like 4 days ago, so the momentum hasnt changed. everything will be clear at the emirates. Arsenal must keep a clean sheet. I dont care if they score or not, but keeping a clean sheet for me is better than winning 2-1.

The in Barca is pique. Las palmas, Sporting, deportivo, levante. These teams scored against barca or had more chances. Mostly were on the counter, but still scored. Giroud should start using his aerial ability against barca, I thnk that could help u guys to be deadly at set pieces. Or play walcott and Sanchez on the wings for speed and hit them on the counter. Plus try using your freekicks well cause it may also be quite useful.

Use coqluein since he may be the key to your win, He has good eye in the game and can break any pass leading to MSN.

Nevertheless, I wish you luck for the game!

Arsenal will need to pull a gigantic rabbit out their dickholes to beat this Barca team.

Press very very high aka Celta vigo and BIlbao, score first and pray for a deadly counter... With only one tactic and having some players reffusing to defense and close spaces when Barça get Closer its mission impossible. Key words : realism, solidarity, tactical awarness and fast counters.
Press Busquets and Rakitic, not the weakest links but Busquets is key to Barça ball dominance, not loosing the ball in own half of the field, good luck.
I just bet 200 euros on Barça win, 1,70 140 euros to win, not a lot but really confident, thanks to Mertesaker.

Deny Busquets the ball....

Thank you.

Unfortunately didn't see the Las Palmas match, but I checked the stats last weekend. Only 53% possession for Barca & shots were 16-12 to Las Palmas (3-7 on target). To think that Arsenal are 5x the team Las Palmas are, it kinda gives hope that it's atleast POSSIBLE to win them

Busquets was not playing nor Iniesta.... These two are rested for a reason, Busquests in fact the most used player by Enriqué and Pep, vital to Barça possession and tempo control.
Usually Pep tactic worked well pressing GK to not pass to Alba or Piqué ( suspended here ), the ball starts from the GK transition from Busquets who always offer a solution to the rest of the squad, Busquets is the extra option for every player on the field due to his placement, deny him space and time to react and Barça is in trouble, if Arsenal doesnt win in the midlefield battle and the ball goes to MSN it will be over in first leg.
Busquets is the most vital piece of Barça followed by Iniesta, because if Busquets gets injured only Mascerano is a replacement and they do not have the same style, Javier is the bull dog that any 4-4-2 team would dream of but cant be as efficient as busquets in a 4-3-3 possession style. MSN could replace themselves very well if one is missing or off form, Busquets doesnt know what off form means block him and you win 15% of possession wich should be perfectly used to get a result.

I agree with tiki, iniesta and specially busquets are the most important players in barca.

I don't care how much Arsenal believes in themselves, because that's not what will effect the outcome of this game. If Arsenal wants to win this, they'll have to play like they did when they beat Bayern, and that's very simple - just take your chances.

I'm serious. Arsenal will create more than enough chances to beat Barca. But the finishing has just been awful. The two fullbacks, and Ozil in particular create so many chances, and not just chances, GOOD chances. But Giroud, Walcott, Ox, Santi, especially Sanchez, but in reality basically the entire Arsenal squad does nothing but pass them up.

We all know what Barcelona is going to do, it'll be what they always do. Suarez and Neymar will probably score, and Messi probably won't because it's Cech, but I'd say even if Arsenal is fantastic defensively, they'll concede at least 3 goals over the tie. Lucky for Arsenal, Barca can't defend to save their lives, I don't care how many defenders they have in FIFA's team of the year. Arsenal should have no problem creating chances. They just need to finish them.

If you do not believe you can do it then you have no chance at all.

Arsene Wenger

but I'd say even if Arsenal is fantastic defensively, they'll concede at least 3 goals over the tie. Lucky for Arsenal, Barca can't defend to save their lives, I don't care how many defenders they have in FIFA's team of the year. Arsenal should have no problem creating chances. They just need to finish them.

That's what I've thought so much.

probably starting XI's

@SunFlash How can you say that? Personal will, determination and believing in himself made Cristiano Ronaldo what he is today. That is so wrong to say especially when going for a such a big game vs Barcelona and I personally guarantee you that believing in yourself is the 50% of what you need to do in football, that is how you improve, how you push yourself over the limits, how you shut mouths of media and haters etc etc. Its a virtue that footballers MUST have.

Personally I think at Emirates chances will be even, but as you said and I agree Arsenal must start finishing their chances because Barcelona is an opponent that you can't afford mistakes at least the recent years Barcelona.

Besides they got Big Pete they have nothing to fear.

I always find it really annoying when people say "x team/player" just wanted it more and that's why they won."

No they didn't, or even if they did, that's not what got them the result. The team that wins a game is the team that comes out and executes its gameplan better. Occasionally luck is involved, that's sports, and luck is a thing. But it's a variable you can't control, and willpower has nothing to do with it.

Having self-belief and confidence is good, necessary even, but it isn't the end-all-be-all.

No it did not but it played a MAJOR part on getting the result, and yes it has a lot to do with it. When you feel your body exhausted during a game and your muscles hurt and you keep pushing yourself more and further more it is your willpower and let me be a bit more poetic on this. It is the fire in your soul that motivates an athlete to keep going because most of the times the real opponent is us and not the guy standing next to us with different colors.

Never said it is the end-all-be-all but it is very very very important in every aspect of the game.

Just to make it more clear since you are a united fan. When Manchester United won the treble at the last minutes you really think it was Sir Alex plan to score 2 last minutes goals and troll the Germans? Besides Sir Alex beeing a brilliant tactician it was mostly will and determination from the players to keep fighting until the last second for that trophy and glory.

Aaaaaand yes the players believed in themselves that is why all football fans was shocked from that game.

I think that David Beckham whipped in two excellent corners and the six-yard finishing was on point. I'm sure Bayern wanted the Champions League trophy just as much as United. They just didn't execute defensively on those two corners.

I'm not saying United didn't have self-belief and competitive fire. But to assume that was what made the difference is taking away from the technical ability of the players.

You won't understand unless you play football.

Different opinions fair enough.

Considering Barca have a rough defense, if Arsenal can get on target, they have a good chance to take this match. Over the course of two legs though, the odds are much lower to go through. Arsenal can score and in bunches, but they must counter attack and really be on point for finishes.

The next part is much harder and that is to stop Barca's attack. It is not just the front three mind you. That midfield is so dangerous as well. It is not like the ball goes from the backline up to the front three and never touches the mids. Petr Cech is gonna need a huge game today.