Arsenal will face what ultimately looks like their toughest test of the season so far, as they welcome Catalan giants Barcelona to the Emirates tonight.
The Gunners will be looking to bounce back from their frustrating weekend as they were held to a goalless draw with Hull City, mounting pressure on their fixture schedule.
However, after making nine changes against The Tigers, Arsene Wenger will have a fresh squad to put out against a side that are dominating club football.
Barcelona have conceded just 19 goals in La Liga this season, and the prospect of their attacking front three coming to the Emirates is a daunting one for every supporter.
But it’s the crowd that the Gunners will need for their first leg of the knockout stages, as they cling on to the belief that Champions League glory could be on the horizon.
Team News
Arsenal
Arsene Wenger confirmed he would have a large squad to pick from for the tie, which could give him a selection headache following the rise and fall of some players form.
Following his appearance on BT Sports pre-match programme on Saturday afternoon, Jack Wilshere confirmed he was targeting a return in three weeks time.
Despite working hard at London Colney throughout the week, Gabriel Paulista isn’t ready for this one so Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny will keep their places.
Also on the sidelines for Arsenal is the midfield maestro Santi Cazorla, who is expected to return to action in roughly four weeks time.
Barcelona
Luis Enrique used the familiar strategy of Wenger and rested some key players during their 2-1 victory over Las Palmas, so he too will have a strong squad to play with.
The likes of Gerard Pique and Ivan Rakitic were left on the sidelines on Saturday night, which could be key to keeping tabs on Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.
Having missed the majority of the season through a cruciate ligament injury, Rafinha is the only Barca man that will be missing.
One To Watch
Arsenal – Mesut Ozil
For someone that has been branded a player that doesn’t perform in the big games, Ozil has proved all his doubters wrong so far in the Premier League.
Now, he must take his exceptional form and cause havoc for Barcelona, because he will be the main point of our attacks on the break.
He doesn’t like to run around too much but that doesn’t matter to me, because when he’s got the ball there’s always a chance of some magic, let’s just hope he’s ready to fight.
Barcelona – Luis Suarez
You could pick out any one of these Barcelona players to focus on, but Suarez has made a huge impact in his debut season with his new side, having already scored 40 goals in all competitions.
Suarez is no stranger to the Gunners and we’ve dealt with him in the past, but this time he’s got 10 players behind him capable of creating a chance from nothing.
He will most likely latch on to Mertesacker, and that could spell big trouble for Arsene Wenger’s men.
Predicted Line-Ups
Arsenal
Goalkeeper: Petr Cech will return to action after David Ospina was inactive on the weekend, and that will be a massive boost for Arsenal who need experience in a game like this.
Defence: Having played together for the majority of the season, a familiar back four is inevitable following Gabriel’s injury, but this will be a big test for former Barca academy star Hector Bellerin.
Defensive Midfield: A pairing that looks good from any angle, because we can rely on Aaron Ramsey and Francis Coquelin to stick to their roles and not get caught to high up the pitch.
Midfield: A trio that has pace, creativity and able to finish when needed, Theo Walcott deserves to start this one on the right wing in my opinion. I would easily have Welbeck in but his 65 minutes on Saturday may have pushed him too far, too soon.
Forward: Olivier Giroud needs a goal and what better occasion to do it than in front of 60,000 fans whilst taking on Barcelona. Forgetting his goalscoring tally, the striker has been pivotal to knock downs and gives us another option in the final third.
Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Ramsey, Walcott, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud
Barcelona
Goalkeeper: It was always going to be difficult for Ter Stegen to step up to the plate following some legendary goalkeepers to grace the badge, but his fine form has seen him concede just 19 goals all season.
Defence:Â A formidable line up in defence that is packed with experience, Barca have it all with height and pace to take on any kind of Arsenal attack. Gerard Pique is fresh and will be in charge of coping with those looping crosses, a key battle with Olivier Giroud.
Defensive Midfield:Â Slightly different to the Gunners, Barcelona are used to having Sergio Busquets fill the role on his own, and that could be something the home side haven’t come across before.
Midfield:Â What can we say about this midfield, with Ivan Rakitic and Andres Iniesta there’s danger at every minute, and Arsenal will have to stay focused throughout.
Forwards: Do I have to say anything about these three? They’ve been simply a joy to watch for any football fan, but let’s hope they decide to have an ‘off night’ at the Emirates!
Barcelona XI (4-1-4-1): Ter-Stegen, Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba, Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta, Messi, Neymar, Suarez
Where To Watch
You can catch all of the action at the Emirates on BT Sport from 7pm UK time on Tuesday night, with additional highlights of all the Champions League highlights coming straight after.
Follow @Fresh_Arsenal on Twitter to keep up to date with all of the post-match reaction, and let us know your thoughts on the game by commenting below!