Arsenal: 5 Things That Must Weigh On Arsene Wenger’s Mind

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3. Our Dear Spanish Friends, Barcelona

Did anyone really have any doubt about who we would face in the Round of 16? Different cast same shirt, Barcelona and Arsenal do battle once again. After all of the pain, suffering and anguish we put ourselves through to get to this point, the football gods rewarded us with Neymar, Messi and my personal favorite, Suarez.

I am in the camp – small as it may be – that we can actually get a result against Barca. We never had Ozil or Sanchez when we faced them before. I mean we did have Henry, Pires and Fabregas in the 2006 final, but that’s beside the point. If we strengthen in January, I believe Arsenal can cause an upset. Its unlikely. Highly unlikely. I mean we have the slimmest of chances and even then its still probably not going to happen. Yet I maintain hope.

Because that’s what the Champions League is about. We have two games. We stole one against Bayern. Why not one against Barcelona as well? After that we can steal a page out of Chelsea’s book and park the bus so deep in our own half you’ll see tire marks in the penalty box.

However a result against Barcelona isn’t just important for the present. Its something that Arsenal need in order to grow. Make no mistake, Arsenal is a huge club, and a massive European power. Yet, Arsenal seem to be stagnating in the Champions League. If we are going to have any shot against Messi and Co., we will need our best players to dig deep, and the manager to dig deep into the club’s coffers.

If Arsenal fail to make at least a genuine competition out of this tie then the dominoes may begin to fall. Which brings me to my next topic.

Next: 2. Locking Down Superstars