"What is Maradona doing on the field???"
"Arsenal...meh."
In this post i will be discussing the tactics that could and may well be used by both managers, as well as discuss numerous problems facing each side. Lets get to it!
Arsenal preffered lineup:
Almunia, Sagna, Vermaelen, Gallas, Clichy, Song, Fabregas, Nasri, Arshavin, Rosicky, Van Persie
Arsenal predicted lineup (certain absentees, doubtful players):
Almunia, Sagna, Vermaelen Campbell, Clichy, Song, Diaby, Nasri, Arshavin, Rosicky, Bendtner
Arsenal formation: 4-3-3.
Barcelona preferred lineup:
Valdes, Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro, Messi, Ibrahimovic
Barcelona predicted lineup (certain absentees, doubtful players):
Valdes, Alves, Pique, Puyol, Maxwell, Busquets, Xavi, Keita, Pedro, Messi, Ibrahimovic
Barcelona formation: 4-3-3.
This means that the park will look something along the lines of this:
---------------Almunia---------------
Sagna--Vermaelen--Campbell--Clichy
-----------------Song----------------
---------Diaby---------Nasri---------
Rosicky-------Bendnter-----Arshavin
Pedro-------Ibrahimovic-------Messi
------Iniesta--------------Xavi-------
---------------Busquets--------------
Maxwell----Puyol----Pique----Alves
----------------Valdes---------------
This game is being staged as one to watch, something that wont be seen for another 10 years.
I think it will live up to the hype, do you?
To the tactical analysis:
Arsenal 3 Most Decisive Features for this match:
Overlapping/Attacking Fullbacks:
I will say it now, and will probably say it again. It will be impossible, i repeat, impossible to keep a clean sheet against barcelona unless your fullbacks attack. Barcelona have constantly pushed less and less men up front thanks to opposition fullbacks pinning them back up the line. Without the overlapping threat of Dani Alves or Maxwell, Messi and Pedro are left alone to beat Clichy/Campbell and Sagna/Vermaelen respectively. Though this may have its faults against teams that play the counter attack, it is highly unlikely that Guardiola will go against his philosophy of playing total football, and this dimension of the Catalan giants attack is still being formed, only seeing glimpses of what it could do in the future. Without the Blaugranas wingbacks, who are both naturally attack-minded players, the Gunners centre backs will not be exposed to Zlatan, Keita and Xavi crashing the box, as much. Though Messi and Pedro both have the quality to beat their men, the Gunners boast two of the fastest and fittest fullbacks in the world, and the Spanish and European champions will have to think twice before crossing to their Swedish tower of terror.
Alexandre Song:
In scintillating form for the Londoners, Alex Song has made a huge impact, making the DM role his own. Song might as well change his name to "Destroyer", because that is what he will be trying to do for 180 minutes, destroy the Barcelona attack through the center. Ok, so maybe not on his own, but im sure he will have nightmares on tuesday night of Xavi skinning him and shooting the winner, knocking the Gunners out and leaving them trophyless for the seventh season in a row. Just kidding, this kid has class. Im really impressed by what Alex has done so far for Arsenal and im sure that with the help of Diaby, a former DM himself, and Nasri, he will keep Barcelona at bay. "Oh, wait. Aint that Kolos brother coming towards me?" Yaya Toure. Though most teams that play a 4-3-3 leave their DM back for obvious purposes (Attacking Fullbacks), Guardiola has let Toure/Busquets forward and has managed to concede the least goals in La Liga, while maintaing a huge threat going up the line. Song will have his hands full with Pedro and Messi constantly cutting in. It will either be a 5 star performance, or a dissapearance by the youngster.
Bendtner:
4 words. Not the best finisher. Although he has saved the Gunners on numerous occasions from an embarassing draw at home or away, Nicklas has not been in good form and will have to overcome his woeful finishing if he is to put one past Valdes on wednesday. Bendnter will have to understand that his side will be choked of possession for most of the game, and barely any chances will come the Gunners' way. He will have to take them, or else he will risk losing his spot to someone else, something that Wenger has never opposed. With the depth and youth in the Arsenal team Bendtner will be out to prove himself and will certainly be needing to put his finishing boots on.
Barcelona 3 Most Decisive Features for this match:
Lionel Messi:
Although he has not scored in the past 2 games for the Catalan giants, 3 hatricks in a row cannot be taken lightly. His movement and speed gives defenders nothing to work with, he often leaves a pack of defenders in path, all wondering how he got past them. Leo can do the impossible, and Guardiola will want to bring the best out of "La Pulga". Constantly changing from cutting into the middle and crossing should give clichy something to think about, and campbell is not the fastest defender, sometimes attackers breeze past him as if he is a training pole. Anything that Barcelona does always goes through playmakers, often Messi, Iniesta, Xavi and Pique. With Iniesta a doubt and Xavi/Pique both just returning from injury, it will be down to the Argentine wizard to blast Barca forward.
Midfield and Defensive Creativity:
Xavi and Pique. Both are returning from injuries, but both have some game time under their belts. If Barca want to go forward, it starts from the back, Alves, Maxwell and Pique will have to be on their toes, looking for the constant runs of Ibra, Messi and Pedro. The Midfield is going to be Barcelonas weak point, for once. Xavi will be man marked, despite Wenger refusing to do it, and if he doesnt, i can already picture Barca in the semis, so, Keita and Toure/Busquets will have to dish out passes to the wings and give options to Ibra when he acts as lone man up front, though the latter has more creativity, Toure is a man made of steel, a beast, in my eyes, someone who can hustle the ball of anyone, and this will be important too.
High Defensive Line/Containing Pressure:
If Barca can keep their high line and keep possession in Arsenals half, its all over for the Gunners. This wont be simple though. Rosicky and Arshavin have proved to be workhorses when tasked with pressurising the defence, while Bendtner stands out and above players like Maxwell, Alves and Xavi, causing a constant distraction on aerial balls. Alves and Maxwell will need to attack and get forward at their corresponding wing backs AND centre backs. If they fail to do this, they will be pinned back and Arsenal can play their way into the match, something that Valdes doesnt want his back line defending.
Prediction: 1-2. As much as the gunners want to win, they will be rolled over by Barcelonas sheer class. Goals by Arshavin (1st half), Pedro (2nd Half), Ibrahimovic (2nd Half).
A true clash of the titans, do not miss this one.
