Tuesday, February 23, 2016

How Arsenal Will Line Up Against Barcelona

The Gunners take on the holders in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is under no illusions as to the size of the task ahead of his side when they take on "super favourites" Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League.



The Gunners will host the reigning champions in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night hoping to still be in the tie for the return leg in Barcelona next month.
Arsenal have been knocked out in the last 16 stage of Europe's elite competition in the last five seasons and it will take an almost perfect performance over the two games to prevent that unwanted record extending to six consecutive years.
Wenger spoke in his pre-match press conference about the need for "discipline" and he is likely to ask his side to defend deep, with the regular back five picking itself, especially as Gabriel remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.

The Frenchman's main dilemma will be who to play in the band of three behind main striker Olivier Giroud. Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil will certainly start, but Wenger must choose between Theo Walcott, Joel Campbell and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Walcott's big-game experience and pace on the counter-attack means he is likeliest to get the nod in a line-up that may well be Wenger's first-choice starting XI.Arsenal will know what to expect from Barcelona - and in particular the Spanish champions' fearsome front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.



Messi has never scored against Petr Cech but the Arsenal goalkeeper may be in for a busy night on Tuesday.

Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic are in line to return to the starting line-up having been rested in the 2-1 victory over Las Palmas on Saturday, while Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Gerard Pique will also come into the side.


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