Breaking Down Barcelona's Champions League Opponents Arsenal
Barcelona are unlikely to be too disappointed with the Champions League round-of-16 draw, but that doesn't mean that they should take opponents Arsenal lightly.
They appear to have done precisely that in their last two games against Valencia and Deportivo La Coruna and have paid the price.
One of the Premier League's form teams at present, Arsenal have quality throughout their side and Arsene Wenger will be keen to ensure that the Catalans don't progress at their expense yet again.
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The two teams like to play an intoxicating possession- and passing-based game, and it's likely to be one of the ties of the round for the football purist.
If the north Londoners can add a bit of steel and grit to their game over the two legs, then we'll be in for a fantastic 180 minutes, but another failure to mix it with the Blaugrana—especially at the Camp Nou—and there is only one winner here.
Let's take a look at a few of Arsenal's main exponents, the men who carry the hopes of thousands and who'll be ready to spring an upset.
Alexis Sanchez
A player who needs no introduction whatsoever to Barca fans.
It was inevitable that one of either Alexis Sanchez or Pedro Rodriguez would leave the Catalans in the 2014 summer transfer window.
Neymar's emergence meant that both players would dip their toes in first-team waters on a more occasional basis, one normally supplanting the other during a match.
Arsenal's £35 million was enough to secure his signature, and he's wasted no time impressing the club's fan base.
Per Arsenal.com, he was a deserved winner of the 2015 Football Supporters' Federation Player of the Year trophy and will remain an omnipresent threat in both legs.
Barca's occasionally shaky defence won't get the time on the ball that they're used to with the Chilean buzzing around, and Sanchez's team-mates need to be alive to the possibilities that his harrying and shutting down will create.
Aaron Ramsey
In the absence of Santi Cazorla's creativity, which will be sorely missed in this company, Aaron Ramsey's more robust and energetic midfield presence should keep Sergio Busquets on his toes.
The Welshman should find plenty of opportunities to break forward into opposition territory with Mathieu Flamini holding the fort in front of the Gunners' back four.
Centrally is where we normally find Ramsey produce his best work, although Wenger has tended to use him out wide on occasion. Wales manager Chris Coleman can see why.
During an interview earlier in the year with PA Sport (via ESPN), Coleman said:
"Offensively, he starts in the centre, but he is a player who goes everywhere. He can end up wide. But it is different when you haven't got the ball. As a wide player, the job is different.
Yes, I can understand his (Ramsey's) frustrations, but I can also understand why Wenger may play him out there (wide).
If you look at his physical statistics, he does the most high-intensity running because his engine is incredible.
So he can do the miles, he can get forward and back, so I can see why Wenger has maybe done that.
"
If Arsenal want anything from the tie, Ramsey has to play in the centre. It was because of his performances there that tenuous links surfaced not so long ago suggesting the 24-year-old was a target for the Catalans.
Ramsey noted in an interview with the Guardian (h/t Jack De Menezes of the Independent) that the links were "very flattering."
Barca will now get to see first hand if he is indeed the type of player that the club would shell out in the region of a suggested £50 million for.
Mesut Ozil
The real danger man for Barcelona.
Former Real Madrid man Ozil is enjoying his best form for Arsenal at the moment and is streets ahead of anyone else in the Premier League assist stakes for 2015/16.
So far the German has set up 13 goals for the Gunners and his nearest challenger is ex-Barca player, now Everton's "magic" man, Gerard Deulofeu.
With Ramsey taking the fight directly to Barca, it will allow Ozil the opportunity to float about the pitch and where he will be most dangerous to the European champions.
Luis Enrique can't really afford to station someone to track his every move, but neither can he afford to allow Ozil free reign.
He will be the difference in this tie if he's given licence to roam.
Petr Cech
Arsenal's giant record-breaking goalkeeper Petr Cech has always fared relatively well against Barcelona.
Beaten all ends up by Andres Iniesta's injury-time equaliser that took Barca to Rome in 2009 while playing for Chelsea, Cech was equal to everything to that point.
In the 2012 set of matches, the custodian again did little wrong despite conceding twice in the second leg.
Arguably his sheer size and imposing presence had something to do with Lionel Messi missing the penalty that would've seen Barca most likely go on and win the game.
Under Wenger, Cech has enjoyed a new lease of life.
A talent such as his is wasted on the bench, and it's to Jose Mourinho and Chelsea's credit that they allowed him to join a Premier League rival.
He has wasted no time in showing the Blues what they've been missing too, keeping 10 clean sheets in all competitions per WhoScored.com.
Barca's front three will need to be at their very best to beat him.
Hector Bellerin
The youngster has made the right-back slot his own at the Emirates Stadium and is another, like Sanchez, who will want to get one over on his old employers.
Quicker than Usain Bolt over a short distance allegedly, Bellerin holds Arsenal's club record for the 40-metre sprint.
"Bolt battered by #Arsenal Bellerin (over 40m) #AFC #COYG #GoonerFamily pic.twitter.com/YmjaG5gDe2
— Arsene (@ididnotseethat) April 9, 2015"
Jordi Alba will certainly have his work cut out on that side of the pitch and is unlikely to be able to outpace the youngster, meaning that one avenue of attack is potentially moribund.
