FC Barcelona Vs. Arsenal FC, 2011: First Chance Falls To Pedro

First chance to Barcelona, but not first blood. Arsenal are playing with fire by holding a high defensive line - one that was breached at the Emirates for David Villa's first leg goal - at it very nearly cost them inside the first few minutes of the match as Pedro was both onside and poised to pull the trigger after a pass was lofted over a startled Arsenal defence. Fortunately for Wojciech Szczęsny in the goal, centre back Laurent Koscielny put in a vital tackle to nick the ball of Pedro's toes and send it out for a corner, from which nothing came.

Shortly afterwards Arsenal had their first meaningful attack, with Tomas Rosicky skipping down the right (not left, as the team sheets had stated) and sending in a diagonal cross just ahead of Robin van Persie. Victor Valdes watched the ball roll out for a goal kick, but it's a sign that Arsenal can cause some problems. Unfortunately for the Gunners, right now Barcelona are in total control.