Impossible is Nothing

I was watching the Champions League draw live, hoping for a comparatively easy path to the semi-finals. I say comparatively, because every game here on is difficult (its cliched, but its true). One lapse of concentration can be fatal.

So there I was hoping for an easy route, when the first draw that came out was Lyon v/s Bordeaux.  I almost swore in frustration. Of all the teams in the competition, these were my 3rd and 1st choice for Arsenal to face (2nd being CSKA). Lyon are a team capable of beating anyone on their day, but they are still not more dangerous than Inter, Manchester Utd, Barcelona, or even Bayern Munich. So I was quite apprehensive about what might follow.

The next came Bayern Munich v/s Manchester Utd. I was quite neutral about this. I guess I was glad facing CSKA was still a possibility. And also that the English were out of the way till the final at least.

It was at this point that I realised that the 3 teams we could face were CSKA, Barcelona and Inter. And then the scary part came. Which one would we be happy to face, if not CSKA? Before I could even think about it, "Arsenal v/s Barcelona" flashed on my screen.

I felt like I was hit by something. I mean, this is the team to beat right? This is the team that won every competition they played in last year. And won in style. This is the team every club is running scared of. Because Barcelona don't only beat the opponent  - they make their opponents look like a local pub team at times. Ask Manchester United.

After a few hours passed, I thought about it again. Would Arsenal have a better chance against the cold discipline of Intermilan? Or maybe against the tenacity and power of Manchester United? No. Nada. It's not like we cannot beat a Manchester United or an Intermilan over two legs. But the way those teams play means we start with a disadvantage. Beating them requires being physically strong, being patient and showing uncompromising discipline for 90 minutes. It requires being bloody-minded. Although we have proved we can display these traits, these are definitely not our strongest characteristics, are they?

Our strengths are skill, technique, pace and team-play. This is exactly what Barca are all about, so, for all their brilliance in attack, they will allow us to play to our strengths. I know that Barcelona are at the peak of their form, and may even be much stronger than us in attack. But at least they will not frustrate us with constant cynical fouling and physical intimidation. It will not be a case of an artist having to physically take on a wrestler.

In fact, I think Arsenal will have certain assets of their own when playing Barcelona. Arsenal move the ball quicker than Barcelona. Playing in the premier league, they have also had to add some industry to their character. Furthermore, all the criticism that these players have dealt with at a young age has made them mentally strong and united.

Barcelona, for once might come up against a unit that will take the game to them. If Arsenal knick an early goal, Barcelona may find that Arsenal have the ability to play on the counter attack too. And if all doesn't go this well for Arsenal, they will still keep going, till the end.

Having said all this, Barcelona are the best team in the world, and they have great qualities of their own. They are certainly the favourites against any opposition in the world right now. I am not challenging Barcelona's superiority. What I am getting at is that Arsenal are not a bad team either. We fans need not give up before the two legs are played.

I think 2 Arsenal players are key if we are to win this game. Nicklas Bendtner and Sol Campbell. Bendtner, because we will need to be clinical against Barcelona. They will keep creating chances at the other end and the sheer quality at their disposal means they will score. So we will have to put them under pressure in their half. Bendtner will have to be a constant threat, a nagging irritant to their defence. Arsenal will have to make Barcelona's midfielders contribute significantly in defence. And definitely, we will need goals to ensure we don't get frustrated and they don't get comfortable. That is why Bendtner will be key. Why Campbell will be key does not require too much explanation.

No matter what, we will surely get a display of elegant football. I sincerely hope that the enormity of the occasion does not dull the game. May we see good football, may the best team win, and may Arsenal be the best team on the day!