Football at its Best!

The Arsenal-Barcelona showdown in Champions' League quarterfinals proved as mouthwatering as predicted. Prior to the game, I felt Arsenal would sneak a 2-1 win given that it was at the Emirates and Barcelona weren't the kind of team to sit back and defend simply because it was an away leg.

As it turned out, the first half was an exhibition of why Barcelona are the most feared team in the world. The first 25 minutes saw the ball trapped in the Arsenal half of the field, with wave after wave of Barcelona attack baring down on poor Manuel Almunia. To his credit, he stood his ground as Barcelona tortured the Arsenal defence, creating chance after chance for Ibrahimovic and Xavi to give Barca the lead. He pulled off some magnificent blocks to deny Barca what should've been a 3 goal lead on the basis of the play. Arsenal started to get the ball back a bit near the end of the half, but created absolutely nothing, giving possession away at the Emirates, a place where visitors usually suffer the fate they seemed destined for that night. Barcelona, undeservedly, went into the break level at 0-0.

The beginning of the second half saw Arsenal's luck finally run out, as Ibrahimovic poached two stunning goals to give Barca a deserved lead. At that stage, it seemed game, set and match in this quarterfinal tie, as Arsenal would need nothing less than a miracle at the Nou Camp to march on. Until the half hour mark, it seemed Barca would only extend their lead. But with the introduction of Walcott, Arsenal came alive. Walcott's simmering pace finally gave the Barcelona defence something to fear. A glorious heading chance was spurned by Bendtner as Valdes parried, but Walcott himself prevailed eventually, whisking past dani alves on the wing and making a beeline for Valdes' goal, before stabbing the ball home as the keeper came out to stop him. It was the first direct piece of football Arsenal had pulled off the entire night, with their passing game blown away by Barcelona's selfish ball possession. Arsenal fought back, and even though Barca still created chances and controlled most of the possession, an 80th minute penalty scored by captain courageous Cesc Fabregas tied the match at 2-2.

Given that Barca are level on aggregate, the 2 away goals may prove a decisive advantage, but Arsenal will take heart from their fightback and may dream of eliminating the World Champions if luck goes their way at the Nou Camp. Next Tuesday, all I know is that another spectacle awaits!