FC Barcelona Vs. Arsenal FC, 2011: Robin Van Persie Sent Off

That going to make life harder for Arsenal. Robin van Persie, who deserved a red card for his first half assault on right back Dani Alves, has been sent off for a completely undeserved second yellow card. The flag was raised on a long punt forward with van Persie able to weave past both Sergio Busquets and Eric Abidal and shoot, but the whistle had gone for offside a second before the striker got the shot away, and he was shown a second yellow card and dismissed for time wasting. Van Persie protested that he simply couldn't hear the whistle go (and in his defence, the Nou Camp is really REALLY loud), but the referee was having none of it and Arsenal are now down to ten men. Their lives are going to be much, much harder from here on out.

Meanwhile, Manuel Almunia is playing like a crazed hero, oblivious to danger as he snuffs out Barcelona attacks left and right. He's already been kicked in the face at least twice this half - remember that Arsenal have no more goalkeepers on the bench, meaning that if Almunia picks up an injury, an outfield player is going in goal. Tense, tense times in Spain.