Barcelona are looking menacing, holding the ball with ease against the Arsenal midfield trio of Cesc Fabregas, Jack Wilshere, and Abou Diaby. They're simply giving the visitors no chance to recover possession, shifting the ball around until they spot a gap through which a pass unerringly fizzes - it's rather fortunate for the Gunners that Dani Alves had inexplicably drifted offside when he was put clean through. The obvious response is to foul Xavi, a task to which Diaby is applying himself wholeheartedly.
FC Barcelona Vs. Arsenal FC, 2011: Laurent Koscielny Booked, Possibly Injury To Wojciech Szczęsny
What Arsenal absolutely cannot do is make silly errors - centreback Johan Djourou contrived to give the ball straight to Javier Mascherano while Arsenal were trying to transition to attack. The ex-Liverpool man instantly fed Leo Messi, leaving the Argentine magician one on one with Laurent Koscielny. This time, the defender won, thanks to some late help from Wilshere, but he probably won't be so lucky next time. Koscielny's now picked up a booking for a foul on Pedro, meaning that the centre back's going to have to tread very very carefully for the rest of the match. From the free kick, Dani Alves blasted a vicious shot straight at Wojciech Szczęsny, who caught the ball cleanly but appears to have injured his hand in the process
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