Champions League – It’s FC Barcelona/Potters

Arsčne Wenger’s prediction, probably made in jest, was right. We face FC Barcelona again in Champions League round of sixteen. As last season we shall be at home first. 

Having watched the Catalans complete dismemberment of Real Madrid in the recent derby de España in the Camp Nou and our two performances last season against them in the quarter finals, we’ll do very, very well do even be competitive in these fixtures, assuming both teams maintain their current form. 

The dates are now confirmed. We’re home Wednesday 16 February 2011 with the return in the Camp Nou on Tuesday 8 March 2011. If you’re intending to travel under your own steam I’d book flights a bit lively. I got a flight out on the Monday and back on the Wednesday with British Airways for just under £104 but that’ll probably go up quickly. Demand may be well down from the travelling Gooner Nation however due to pessimism about the outcome, the continuing weakness of Sterling, the fact that we were there last season and the recession. 

Now we know who we’ll face we need to completely forget it until the New Year. What’s crucial is three points against Stoke City tomorrow afternoon. The only way any team ever wins anything is by taking it one game at a time. The war of words centred on Ryan Shawcross has already started. Tony Pullis may be a knob but he isn’t stupid. He’ll be using the crowd reaction tomorrow to gee his team up. 

I just hope we give them a sound tonking. That would be an appropriate response to the horrible tackle and horrific injury to young Aaron Ramsey, now making his way back to full fitness on loan at Nottingham Forest. The weather has meant he’s barely managed a half hour of playing time so far. Let’s hope we soon see him back at Arsenal continuing to show the promise he was before that tackle. 

Super-short blog today as I’m under the cosh at work. 

Keep the faith! 

vic@arsenalinsider.com

Vic Crescit

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