if this is the case then we could witness Andrey Arshavin sitting on the Arsenal bench with Tomas Rosicky keeping his place from the weekend

I have been thinking about this tie way before the draw was announced on March 19th. We had a sample of it in the 2006 Champions League final but as we know the match was destroyed by a sending off, that dismissal of Jens Lehmann robbed all the viewers of the game it should have been.

That night Arsenal did themselves proud, taking the lead even with a man down and going toe to toe with Ronaldinho’s Barcelona.

In 2010 both teams have evolved into two of the most artistic sides in European football, two teams that are probably the most watched and enjoyed by neutrals around the world. As Arsene said recently, there are many similarities between the two teams, a rotating attacking front line not governed by static positions, both sides go into games with the intention of playing their own game and not strangling the opposition to death, in other words stopping the opponent from playing football. This could well suit both sets of players and that makes the game mouthwatering.

One of the differences between the sides is the quantity of trophies in the cabinet in recent years. Barca brushed aside all comers last season picking up every single trophy that they entered, a truly amazing feat for a young coach in his first season as first team manager.

Arsenal have been learning the ropes and developing our own players which has seen us make huge strides forward from last season. Part of the reason for this difference is the stages of both squads. I remember when Messi was a 17 year old teenager coming on for the last 15 minutes usually for French right winger Ludovic Giuly. Messi’s talent was obvious but he was not able to physically and consistently help his side for long periods. Andres Iniesta was the most used Barcelona substitute a few years ago for Frank Rijkaard making brief cameo’s from the bench. Today these players have benefited from growing into the Barcelona way.

Back in London we are witnessing something close. Alex Song, Abou Diaby, Samir Nasri et al are in their early twenties and are showing more than glimpses of what they can do.

The game tonight will be a test to each and every member of the Arsenal squad, a real chance to show how far they have come. Hopefully without the referee allowing the opposition to kick Arsenal black and blue and then dishing out yellow cards to Arsenal players for looking at the opposition the wrong way. I remembered how football matches are supposed to be refereed at the Emirates against Porto.

Arsene Wenger has pulled a rabbit out the hat by declaring William Gallas fit enough to join the squad. I hope and think that Gallas will be fit enough to start the game. Give me a Sol Campbell against a big lumbering Premier League forward and I will sleep easy but put his aging legs up against quick one touch passing and movement then I feel a little more uncomfortable. Even without match fitness I think Gallas would be more suited to this type of game.

Cesc Fabregas did not train with the squad yesterday and the club are waiting for one last look at his bruised knee (thank you very much Craig Gardner) I hope he is will make it because this being the home leg we need to take the game to them and hopefully get a lead to take to Camp Nou.

A midfield of Song, Diaby and Denilson is one that I would rather have away in the Camp Nou than at the Emirates. With or without our captain we will need to be at our best. I feel that Cesc will be given the green light, all the signs are that he will play and make a dramatic Thomas Vermaelen like recovery and take part in what promises to be a very entertaining game of football.

Reading in between the lines or perhaps looking rather naively at the training pictures you could attempt to predict the line up judging my the bib colours. I am assuming that when training before a game the manager would want to get his players together who are going to be starting in the same team. Game understanding and partnerships develop on the training ground and if this is the case then we could witness Andrey Arshavin sitting on the Arsenal bench with Tomas Rosicky keeping his place from the weekend.

A combination of Daniel Alves along with the best player in world football doubling up on poor Gael Clichy could not be ignored, even from a coach who likes to take the game to the opposition. Tomas Rosicky is not shy in chasing his opposite number back and putting his foot in. Defensively Andrey Arshavin hasn’t always put in the required graft and one lack of urgency or laziness could see Messi and Alves slice through Clichy and give Barca a vital away goal.

I still see Emmanuel Eboue, who has had two weeks rest without kicking a match ball in anger In wonder what type of impact he could have on our side, his ability to run directly at the opposition is another string added to our attacking bow but finding a place for him could prove to be difficult given the defensive ability of Sagna and the attacking form of Samir Nasri.

I would love him over lapping against Maxwell or whoever they choose to play at left full back but the idea of Thierry Henry counter attacking a broken down move from the flying Eboue is enough to change the colour of my underwear.

Much is made of the quality of the Barcelona midfield but I look at ours and cannot think of much better, especially with the influential Andres Iniesta out injured for this leg.

We will be witnessing battles all over the pitch, Vermaelen against Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Xavi vs Song, Cesc vs Toure, the list goes on but the one battle that would prove to be decisive to the tie would be Lionel Messi against Gael Clichy.

One to watch: Gael Clichy

Clichy has rediscovered his best form at the right time, his task could prove to be the most difficult in the Arsenal side. He will be faced with the best player in world football running at him. Clichy has had fantastic games against Cristiano Ronaldo in the past and will be wanting to do the same with Messi. I do not imagine Clichy bombing forward too many times, as tempting as it could be to try and get Barca moving in the opposite direction, any bad positioning could be punished in a split second. Especially with Brazilian right back Danny Alves pushing forward.

Handling Messi will not only be Clichy’s job. Lionel Messi is not fixed on the right, he likes to cut inside play one-two’s whilst still being on the move and end up hitting a shot or dribbling through the center backs from a central position. Alex Song and the left sided attacker will have to do their share of work in stopping the little magician.

You do get the sense that a big part of reducing Barcelona’s danger is to stop Leo Messi, if he can be kept reasonably quiet then our chances increase a great deal in gaining a first leg advantage.

Mean Lean’s Predicted Line Up

Having had another think about our team shape, it makes a lot of sense playing Rosicky on the left side of the attack but I cannot imagine Arshavin sitting on the bench in such an important first leg at home. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Arshavin playing as a central striker in place of Nicklas Bendtner. Emmanuel Eboue could play on the right of attack with Nasri on the left.

Arsene has many options open to him due to a squad full of talent, but I believe that my team will be pretty close to the side that takes to the pitch tonight.

Mean Lean’s Match Prediction

We have not had many opponents coming to the Emirates with an open expansive game and if Barca do approach the game in that vein then it should make for an exciting game but I have a gut feeling that they might just be a little more cautious with their attacks.

I really believe that playing this game at home first could be an advantage to us if we play the game correctly. Without being gung-ho we need to take the game to them and put them under pressure from the first minute. Barca will keep the ball well when they have it and will look to build up their attacks. I hope we play at a very high tempo, a tempo that Barcelona do not play in their home league. If our attacking players can move the ball forward and quickly then Barca could be punished in the way that Porto were. All the players have to play a high pressure game, working to deny Barca time to lift their heads and pick passes.

I have a gut feeling that Barcelona will not be able to live with our speed and movement. It could well be wishful thinking but I could imagine Arsenal racing into a 3-0 lead only for the visitors to pull a late goal back to keep them in the tie.

Whatever happens, this is a game where you need to sit back and marvel at the quality on show. If you are going to the game, sit forward and roar the mighty Arsenal on to victory.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS.

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