Reviewing the Champions League fixtures for Arsenal and Tottenham

The draw  for the Champions League knock-out stages took place on the 17th of December 2010. The English teams as usual, will be experiencing emotions on every end of the emotional spectrum. Here is an overview of the teams chosen to face the English teams in the last 16 (before the draw).

Arsenal vs. Barcelona

The North London club meet the La Liga leaders. Arsenal fans will naturally be unhappy about having to face “Pep’s Dream Team”, touted as being one of the best club sides of all time. Pundits from “The Guardian” said that their recent 5-0 rout of Real Madrid was “the best 90 minutes of football in recent times”. Post- draw interview elucidated that Wenger was not afraid of  Barcelona, and placed an emphasis on “difficult but possible”.

Prediction: I think Barcelona can go away with this one. A 3-1  win at the Camp Nou, with Arsenal taking the lead and not being able to finish the game off, and a narrow 1-0 win at the Emirates. This would put them through 4-1 on aggregate. The reason I do not opt for an Arsenal rout  at Home or at the Camp Nou would be the return of Thomas Vermaelen, ostensibly Arsenal’s best defender since Sol Campbell’s drop in form and departure from the North London Club. Vermaelen could partner an improving Sebastien Squillacci in the heart of the defence.

Danger men: The Barcelona danger men are  universally known: Talented playmakers Xavi and Iniesta creating  for Messi,David Villa and the always-improving Pedro. Arsenal will have to prevent them from playing their game and utilise the creativity of Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas to let  their expert frontmen, Robin Van Persie and Marouane Chamakh get their goals.

Tottenham Hotspur vs. A.C Milan

This match has been billed as “Experience vs. Inexperience”.Certainly the seven-time winners have looked good in the tournament so far, finishing second below the mighty Real Madrid. Tottenham Hotspur have dazzled in their first ever showing at the Champions League, finishing top over European giants Inter Milan, FC Twente and FC Werder Bremen. Both mangers appear to be satisfied by the draw, Harry Redknapp insinuating that A.C Milan is a “Decaying Giant”. His Italian counterpart, Massimilliano Allegri, has voiced the thoughts of many Milan  fans by implying that he considers Spurs as “minnows”.

Prediction: I anticipate Spurs winning this one. The scoreline? 2-0 at home and 0-1 away. would put them though at 2-1 in aggregate. The home game here would be key for Spurs. That is where they have a real chance of taking it out Milan’s hands.

Dangermen: Gareth Bale will be expected to dominate Tottenham’s Champion’s Leaague effort. He will be assisted by Croatian play-maker Luka Modric and Rafael Van der Vaart. Attackers Defoe and Crouch  are Tottenham’s primary goal-getters. On Milan’s side Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alexandre Pato, both influential forwards will look to score for Allegri’s side.