Busquets brilliance sets Barca tempo
ARSENAL can hold their heads high. They played against a better team and they created chances. But let’s not kid ourselves, they are going out. The odds of them turning this around are slim-to-none. They have to switch their attention to the Premier League and the FA Cup. The Champions League must be their lowest priority of the three competitions they are still in. Arsene Wenger has got to protect against injuries and most importantly get ready for an assault on the league.
BUSQUETS THE CONTROLLER
EVERYONE talks about Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, but Sergio Busquets is so important to this Barcelona side. He’s so underrated. He’s the controller; he sets the tempo, has a great understanding of the game and can open up opponents with a single pass — which he did at the end of the first half, releasing Dani Alves to cross for Suarez, who headed inches wide. When the game needs to speed up, he is the one who starts making that happen.
THE OX DISAPPOINTS
IT WAS a shame Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had to come off just after half-time. This was arguably the biggest game of his life but he fluffed his lines a little. Wenger made a big call to include him ahead of Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck. He did OK but missed a great chance in the first half. A bit more composure could have made a huge difference in the tie — and for his career.
NO POSSESSION IS NOT PLAN B
I GET frustrated when people say Arsenal are happy not having possession, that it’s a tactic of Wenger’s. Let me tell you: no team are happy not having the ball. Say what you like, it’s not enjoyable. You think Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey or Alexis Sanchez like chasing shadows? It’s just what Barcelona do to you. It was forced upon Arsenal, it’s no plan.
THE TWO FLYING MACHINES
I ENJOYED the battle between Neymar and Hector Bellerin. They are two flying machines, going stride for stride. But Neymar just edged it. The Brazilian really is a genius. When he signed, people thought he was a bit of a show pony but he has become so much more. The pass for Messi’s first goal was fantastic. Messi is still the man — I said that in the paper yesterday — but Neymar’s standing is going up. I’d love to see him in the Premier League.
BARCA’S BASKETBALL
IN THE second half, Arsenal let themselves get strung out, which was what Barcelona wanted. They want the pitch to become like a basketball court, end-to-end, frantic, so they can hit the opposition on the counter-attack — just like for the first goal.