Soccer Fan Blog

     All right then, this is my first attempt at this sort of thing so I
apologize in advance in case this thing gets messy. I’ll keep the introduction simple. I’m 17, I live in the States and I love the Arsenal. And I effing mean it. Each day of the week is spent
thinking about the previous or upcoming match. Hours of class are spent pondering misses, goalkeeping errors and starting lineups. Enough of that crap, let’s get to business.

     Before I get to the big Champion’s League encounter on Wednesday, I’d like to say a word on the Birmingham
draw. Let me get the Howard Webb business out of the way first.  It should be clear to all Arsenal fans by now that we’re never going to see consistently good refereeing in the Premier
League, nor will any other side. We have to live with it. Onto the match itself, we didn’t start too well and the first half was a somewhat boring affair. The two best chances (half chances
mind you) fell to Theo Walcott who couldn’t do much with them. After the break we improved a bit but the team didn’t really start to take control until Nasri and Arshavin were introduced. Up
until those substitutions, Diaby had been the best player on the pitch and even had a goal disallowed. Fabregas looked off the pace after a knock to his knee just before the break and wasn’t
able to exert his usual control over proceedings. Nasri and Arshavin added that extra bit of creativity and dribbling that we needed up front. Nasri scored a great goal and Arshavin missed a
chance that turned out to be very costly. Obviously the draw is a disappointing result but it doesn’t mean we’re out of the title race. We just need to be that little bit more lucky than if we
had won the match.  That’s out of the way. Now onto the big one.

     I’ll be honest with you, I think Barcelona are the best team on the planet and Messi’s the best player I’ve
seen since Zidane and Henry in their prime. Here’s the thing though: we can beat  them. We’re often called Barca impersonators and there are clear parallels between the two team’s styles
of play and youth development. There is one big  advantage that Arsenal have in this tie however. Athleticism. It comes in the form of Diaby, Eboue, Song, Walcott and even Thomas
Vermaelen. For once we’re going into a game with the physical advantage in midfield and defense. Another important thing to remember is that Barcelona are a footballing team. They’re going to
come out and play. They will not come out to contain or kick us. This means that we’re going to see the team as free to play Wenger-ball as it has been in quite a while. As long as we have
everyone fit (excluding the long term absentees Van Persie, Ramsey, Gallas, etc), I feel that we’ve got a chance. 

     The talk about Cesc and Diaby being doubts is very scary but I don’t think Fabregas will miss this game
unless he can’t walk. The absence of Gallas has been talked about as a key point and while I would prefer  to have Gallas in the side, it’s not the end of the world. Campbell should be
able to keep up with an off form Zlatan Ibrahimovic (unless he pulls out one of his patented 40 yard karate kick backheel stepovers or whatever they are). Messi is clearly a sobering sight for
any defender but Vermaelen and Clichy have the pace to keep up with him. Whether or not they can stop him remains to be seen. I’m sure of one thing though. Wednesday’s match is going to be a
hell of a game of football.

    That’s all for now. Feedback is welcome and encouraged. Be back after the Barca game, how soon probably depends on
the result.