Arsenal’s 2-1 win against Barcelona in the first leg of their 2011 Round of 16 Champions League tie is, without doubt, one of the greatest nights at the Emirates Stadium.
Playing what is now widely considered to be the greatest club side in football history, Arsene Wenger’s squad produced an astonishing comeback thanks to late goals from Robin van Persie and Andrei Arshavin.
That night is also remembered as Jack Wilshere’s best performance in an Arsenal shirt, the former England international more than holding his own against Xavi and Andres Iniesta.
Yet Pep Guardiola, Barcelona’s manager at the time, wasn’t that impressed, making incredulous comments about the Arsenal academy product in the aftermath of his side’s defeat.
Pep Guardiola said Barcelona’s reserves ‘have many players’ like Jack Wilshere after Arsenal’s 2-1 win
Ahead of the return leg at the Nou Camp, in which Barcelona won 3-1 to progress to the quarter-finals, Guardiola was asked in his press conference for his opinion on Wilshere.
As reported by The Guardian at the time, the Spaniard was initially complimentary, saying: “Wilshere is a top player. He is an excellent player, not just at Arsenal, but also for the national team.”
That was as far as the niceties extended, however, with the 54-year-old then adding: “[But Wilshere] is lucky because [Barcelona] have many players in the second team like him.”
Guardiola then seemed to take a swipe at Wenger as well, stating that “there is no pressure at [Wilshere’s] club to win titles.”
While understandable that the Spaniard would hype up the talent from the infamous La Masia academy, they were still bizarre comments to make, especially considering how good Wilshere was in the first leg against two of the best midfielders to ever play the game.
‘The best night of my life as an Arsenal player’ – Jack Wilshere’s performance against Barcelona in his own words
Speaking in the years following Arsenal’s magical win, Wilshere revealed his thoughts about Guardiola’s comments.
As reported by the Barking and Dagenham Post following an exclusive interview the Islington Gazette conducted with Wilshere, the former England international said: “Yes, [Guardiola] was [complimentary], but he also killed me as well.
“Do you remember what he said? He said they had loads of Jack Wilshere’s at La Masia.
“I do think it was a bit of mind games as well because it was still only the end of the first leg.”
Wilshere was then glowing in his assessment of the Spaniard, adding that “Pep is one of the best managers of all time.”
Thereafter, the 33-year-old expanded on his memories of the game itself, saying: “I remember thinking before that match that I’d played games in the Premier League and the Champions League – but I recall thinking: ‘This is Barcelona.’ Messi, Pedro, Xavi, Iniesta.
“Once the game starts, you’re fine. But before the game, looking down the tunnel and there were World Cup winners, Ballon d’Or winners, Champions League winners.”
Wilshere was more than fine after the game started, putting in a performance that he describes as “the best night of my life as an Arsenal player.”
“Winning the FA Cups was great, of course, but I remember after the Barcelona game at the Emirates, Wenger said: ‘This is where you grew up as a player.’”
Unfortunately, as is well known, injuries would scupper Wilshere’s career in North London.
Still, while Arsenal’s 3-0 win against Real Madrid may have surpassed that famous night as the best of the Emirates era, it will still go down as one of the best in the Gunners’ recent history, in large part thanks to the magic Wilshere produced.
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