The match was much anticipated.
Football lovers the world over eagerly awaited the spicy clash between two of the most attractive sides playing the game.
Emirates Stadium hosted its biggest match till date. And it didn't disappoint for one single minute.
Barcelona, widely regarded as the best footballing team of this generation, served to every viewer's delight a passing carousel that was pleasing even to the untrained eye. For the first half hour, the trio of Messi, Villa, and Xavi constantly carved open the Arsenal defence, leaving the defensive trio of Song, Djourou, and Koscielny always on the backfoot chasing shadows.
Villa got his goal. Messi had his wrongfully disallowed and should have gotten a couple more. Arsenal were being mesmerized. To be fair to them, the in-form Van Persie squandered a couple of half chances, but that apart, Wenger's boys had less and less hold of the ball and the game.
The second half started much like the first with Barca dominating play. Much though must be said of the incredible spirit of Wilshere, Fabregas, and Koscielny that was never broken all night despite having to chase the Spanish champions for the better part of the game. Yet again, as the night wore on, the never-say-die attitude of the gunners came to fore.
And like thunder, Arsenal struck twice in quick succession through Van Persie and substitute Arshavin to hold a marginal edge over Barcelona going into the second leg in Camp Nou.
Many had quick harsh words for Guardiola's wards for having underrated Arsenal. Some Barca fans wondered why their beloved side had not learn from the mistakes made the last time the two sides met at the Emirates with Barcelona throwing away a comfortable two-goal lead in the closing stages of the game.
Needless to say, Barca went on to destroy the gunners 4-1 at the Camp Nou.
Whether that feat can be repeated is left to be seen. As it is though, Barcelona may yet live to rue how they allowed a game they so dominated and had buried in their pockets to slip from their grasp.
Fabregas and co. though can live momentarily in the blitz of beating the 'best team in the world', while having a second eye on that herculean trip to Spain in a fortnight.
Football lovers the world over eagerly awaited the spicy clash between two of the most attractive sides playing the game.
Emirates Stadium hosted its biggest match till date. And it didn't disappoint for one single minute.
Barcelona, widely regarded as the best footballing team of this generation, served to every viewer's delight a passing carousel that was pleasing even to the untrained eye. For the first half hour, the trio of Messi, Villa, and Xavi constantly carved open the Arsenal defence, leaving the defensive trio of Song, Djourou, and Koscielny always on the backfoot chasing shadows.
Villa got his goal. Messi had his wrongfully disallowed and should have gotten a couple more. Arsenal were being mesmerized. To be fair to them, the in-form Van Persie squandered a couple of half chances, but that apart, Wenger's boys had less and less hold of the ball and the game.
The second half started much like the first with Barca dominating play. Much though must be said of the incredible spirit of Wilshere, Fabregas, and Koscielny that was never broken all night despite having to chase the Spanish champions for the better part of the game. Yet again, as the night wore on, the never-say-die attitude of the gunners came to fore.
And like thunder, Arsenal struck twice in quick succession through Van Persie and substitute Arshavin to hold a marginal edge over Barcelona going into the second leg in Camp Nou.
Many had quick harsh words for Guardiola's wards for having underrated Arsenal. Some Barca fans wondered why their beloved side had not learn from the mistakes made the last time the two sides met at the Emirates with Barcelona throwing away a comfortable two-goal lead in the closing stages of the game.
Needless to say, Barca went on to destroy the gunners 4-1 at the Camp Nou.
Whether that feat can be repeated is left to be seen. As it is though, Barcelona may yet live to rue how they allowed a game they so dominated and had buried in their pockets to slip from their grasp.
Fabregas and co. though can live momentarily in the blitz of beating the 'best team in the world', while having a second eye on that herculean trip to Spain in a fortnight.
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