Tonight sees possibly the biggest match of the season so it would be rude not to offer you my opinion on this game wouldn't it?
Arsenal travel to Barcelona with a 2-1 lead, after their Champion's League last 16 first leg win at The Emirates, hoping to avenge their 4-1 loss in last year's competition to the same team.
Arsene Wenger's men surprisingly lost the League Cup final to Birmingham City just over a week ago thanks to an Obafemi Martins last gasp goal and will be keen to show they are serious about winning a trophy this season.
Arsenal haven't won a trophy for six years now and should Arsenal knock out Barcelona Wenger will have his attentions seriously focused on the Champion's League.
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| Receiving the runners up medals |
Onto the game.
The fixture is one of the most anticipated games in recent times, after the mouth watering first leg, and is definately a game for the neutrals.
Pep Guardiola will be without his usual central defence partnership of Carlos Puyol and Gerard Pique through injury and suspension so I suspect that Barcelona won't be as strong as they usually are in the heart of defence.
The Catalan giants don't have too many defenders to come in and replace them so I think Busquets will be the man to fill the void and shoulder the burden of shutting out players such as Robin Van Persie and Cesc Fabregas.
Arsenal have injury concerns of their own, with Van Persie being the most talked about. The Dutchman is believed not to be 100 per cent fit but Wenger has included him anyway and looks likely to start the influential player.
Arsenal have already been dealt the blow that pacey winger Theo Walcott will miss the game and this will have a detrimental effect on the way Arsenal play.
With both teams missing key players, or likely not to have their players fully fit I can see goals in this game.
Arsenal will have to attack Barcelona, as the home side have an away goal, and this is where I can see the Spanish side posing the most threat. They are critical when they pass the ball around and if they hit Arsenal on the counter attack it could spell the end of the north London's European adventures for yet another season.
I can see Arsenal getting an away goal of their own but I can see this just spurring on Barcelona to play the slick, fluid, attractive football we have come to associate with them in order for them to get the win they crucially need.
When Barcelona play the way they can, with players such as Xavi, Iniesta and Messi there is no stopping them and I can see this fixture being no different.
I've had it in my head for days that this fixture is going to finish 3-1 to Barcelona so that is the score I am going to recommend.
The odds aren't the best on this scoreline as it's Barcelona but I really think this is how the score will finish, so I'm gong to put money on it myself, only £1 but I'm hoping to take this £1 a long way.
VERDICT: BARCELONA 3-1 ARSENAL - Coral 9/1
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