Wenger applauds near perfect Barcelona yet Arsenal possess tactical kryptonite to topple supermen

ByDesmond Kane

Updated 23/02/2016 at 09:53 GMT

Arsene Wenger must discover a strategy that can help Arsenal overcome Luis Enrique’s side in the Champions League last 16 first leg at the Emirates Stadium, but the French coach will by buoyed by memories of slaying Bayern Munich in the group stage.

Olivier Giroud celebrates with Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain after scoring the first goal for Arsenal

Image credit: Reuters

Key points

Arsenal have lost to Barcelona over two legs in quarter-finals in 2010 and last 16 in 2011
Arsenal beat 2-1 in the first leg six years ago, but lost 3-1 in the second leg in Spain
They drew 2-2 at the Emirates a year later before being flogged 4-1 at the Camp Nou
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique scored twice against Arsenal in 1999 in a 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou and a 4-2 win at the old Wembley in group stage
Messi, Suarez and Neymar have scored 75 goals in 32-match unbeaten run – 20 more than Arsenal in similar amount of games

Champions League

A night in the life of... the Arsenal defence

23/02/2016 at 08:15

Barcelona provide Wenger with glimpse of Utopia

No team is perfect, but Barcelona are not far from it. We need to take our chances. We will have less of the ball than against Hull, but we have to make the most of it. They have top strikers. Maybe they look like they are having a little bit less possession at the moment because they used to have Xavi in midfield. They have a team that can score at any moment.

Luis Enrique has done ‘remarkable job’

I knew Luis Enrique as a player. He scored against us at Wembley in the Champions League," said Wenger. "He has done a remarkable job because he arrived with scepticism around him and won the treble in his first year.

Enrique expects MSN to produce latest brand of magic

Being labelled favourites means nothing. I am delighted to have such a good front three, and also with the squad as a whole. They are all the chosen ones because they are fantastic. I’m absolutely delighted to be their manager. I just say 'abracadabra' and the magic sparks.

Win over Bayern Munich provides Arsenal with genuine optimism

German champions Bayern visited London in the group stage last October with Arsenal facing elimination after opening defeats to Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiacos. They dominated possession, and enjoyed 61 percent of the ball compared to 31 percent for the home side. Yet Pep Guardiola’s side were condemned to a first defeat of the season as Arsenal produced a performance of true grit and discipline to repel the visitors before Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil struck late on to complete an unlikely success.

Mesut Ozil celebrates with manager Arsene Wenger after scoring the second goal for Arsenal.

Image credit: Eurosport

Arsenal hope for 'Cech bounce'

Wenger has been quick to highlight the success of towering goalkeeper Petr Cech, who has yet to lose a goal in six matches and 474 minutes against Lionel Messi. Cech was a pivotal figure when Arsenal felled Bayern making key stops to halt Thiago Alcántara and Robert Lewandowski before Arsenal struck.

Our view – can Arsenal carry a lead to the Camp Nou?

While it is not farcical to imagine Arsenal winning the match, it is difficult to envisage the home side keeping a clean sheet. A 0-0 draw would almost be as welcome as a win, but there are likely to be goals in this because neither side are overly noted for sitting back or holding up well under severe heat. Perhaps the best Arsenal can achieve is a scoring draw, but they will happily accept any sort of outcome that keep the tie alive for the trip to the Camp Nou on March 16.

Suarez, Messi and Nyemar have scored 30 goals between them against Real Madrid, Manchester City, PSG, Juventus, Atletico Madrid and Bayern in the past 30 months. They excel in the very best of company. Arsenal are the latest defence to try to stifle an unstoppable flow.