Arsene knows

Arsenal have finally done it. After five previous attempts with no win, Arsenal have now officially beaten Barcelona and make no mistake about it that is a big thing.

There is always an element of master meets pupil when Barca meet Arsenal and although Arsenal won the game, they still could not match Barca pass for pass, and that means they have some way to go. Beating Barca does not raise Arsenal to Barca’s level but it shows improvement and that is a good thing.

Messi could and should have scored at least two goals and Guardiola will be a bit disappointed that his 40 goals so far this season prized asset, could not find the net in London. Guardiola will also probably rue taking off David Villa so early because he could have helped the last minute Barca cause.

Arsenal started brightly and finished strongly but they still could not stop Barcelona from playing their football and that is pivotal. I think Arsenal must lose this mentality that they can match Barcelona for pure skill and football genius because they cannot.

The gulf in class is still there and just work hard and take their chances like they did in the second half on Wednesday and they might progress.

Fabregas was exceptional for Arsenal, everything that looked threatening for Arsenal went through him and he had a massive hand in both goals.

Alexander Song was a disappointment. He got booked way too early for a challenge he should not be making and then kept making not so clever tackles that a stricter referee would have sent him off before the first half was over.

Jack Wilshire on his part did not look overawed by the occasion at all. Samir Nasry may have made one goal but he was never truly in the game and maybe his contribution will improve in the away leg.

I understand why Arsenal started playing a high line in defence pretty much because you do not want Barca players playing one touch triangles on the edge of your box, that always ends badly, but it was that strategy that presented Barcelona with their first two glorious opportunities and while Messi missed his, David Villa did not.

The quality of Arsenal’s pressing was impressive at most times but even that was not enough to stop Barcelona. When Arsenal crowded Xavi and Iniesta in the middle, Barca played the long ball out to the ever willing Dani Alves whose performance was superb.

Alves made all the right runs all night long and Wenger might do well to assign his left sided player to watch him at the Nou Camp in a few weeks time.
Now for the harsh news, Arsenal have just won the first half of their tie. They still need to go to Barcelona and hold out there which is a massive task.

They basically need to go there and do what Mourinho did in the semi finals last year, defend like your life depends on it but knowing Wenger that will not happen. Arsenal will try and attack Barcelona and you have to hope they do not get punished.

Further back to the weekend, Wayne Rooney won the Manchester derby with a goal worthy of a Jeff Koinange capital talk intro. If there is a goal that can beat that for goal of the season I would like to see it.

Chelsea on their part drew 0-0 with Fulham leading Ancelotti to concede their title hopes look dead and gone, and it could have been worse had Petr Cech not saved a last minute penalty.

The big news was however was that Drogba was benched to accommodate Torres - I can just see the grin on Mourinho’s face in Madrid.

www.mafans.com