UEFA Champions League: Barcelona Defeat Arsenal 4-3 On Aggregate

Here’s the thing, Arsene - if UEFA really are a dictatorship, it’s probably best not to talk back to them or they’ll just hit you with even more punishment. And if they aren’t, well, you’ve just given them more ammunition to charge you with, making them look like even more of a dictatorship. Also, is there anything less humble than asking someone else to show more humility?

I understand that Wenger is angry (and in my opinion, he’s just trying to deflect attention away from his players after a fairly woefully performance in Spain), but he’s a smart enough man to know that this sort of thing isn’t going to get him anywhere. If he reacts this badly every single time UEFA smack him after he says something naughty, his ultimate punishment will probably be measured in ice ages.

After a first half dominated by FC Barcelona, capped off by a late Lionel Messi goal, Arsenal FC appeared as if they had their work cut out for them in the second half. The Blaugranas were in control of their UEFA Champions League tie, but a huge Barca mistake made things very interesting, very quickly.

In the 52nd minute, Sergio Busquets scored an own goal to level the match at 1-1 on the day, giving Arsenal a 3-2 advantage on aggregate. On a corner kick, a lunging Johan Djourou missed a ball that fell to a cluster of three Barcelona defenders, with no Arsenal player challenging. Despite this, Busquets attempted a risky clearance and headed the ball straight into the back of the net, almost as if he was trying to score. The announcers, the home crowd, and even the Arsenal players were left stunned.

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Clichy, Koscielny, Djourou, Sagna; Diaby, Wilshere; Rosicky, Fabregas, Nasri; Van Persie

Subs: Almunia, Denilson, Squillaci, Arshavin, Eboue, Chamakh, Bendtner.

Alex Song is injured, and this presents some serious problems for Arsenal FC. As everyone who watches European football knows, FC Barcelona have some midfielders who are really good at passing the ball. So, when Arsenal are without their lone ball-winning midfielder, they have a bit of a problem. Song’s absence inherently makes the 2011 edition of this UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie a little more interesting. Arsenal have a lot of options to deal with this, but none of them are particularly great. Let’s deal with this problem systematically, shall we?

Basically, Arsenal have four different options. Let’s take them on one by one.