Having signed from Barcelona in the summer of 2014, tomorrow night will be the first reunion for Alexis Sanchez, and the Chilean says it will be a bit special for him.
The 27 year old may feel he has something to prove, having been let go in order to fund the purchase of Luis Suarez, and what a game it would be for him to find some form again after a couple of recent displays below his usual standard.
It’s usually emotional for any player to face their old club, and Sanchez is no different.
“I’m a professional so any match against Barcelona in the Champions League is special to me,” he said. “I can’t say what my reaction will be if I score. That depends on the moment.
“But what I can say is that I am grateful to Barcelona for giving me the chance to play in Spain. I won six trophies with them and that is a big influence in any player’s career. But now I am at Arsenal and I want to win for Arsenal.”
He knows their quality very well, obviously, and even if you do stop Lionel Messi, they have a couple of other guys who know how to score too.
“We know it won’t be easy,” he said. “Messi is the best footballer in the world, without a doubt. It’s very difficult to stop him but we will work on it. And remember, Barcelona is not only Leo.”
Don’t we know it. I’m sticking a fiver on Alexis scoring tomorrow though … I have a feeling.
We’ll win 2-1.
I like your optimism, but I think I’ll be watching this game from behind the couch. Hopefully we can cause an upset because all I hear from other fans is about the hammering we are going get,would be nice to shut them up.
Same here in Lagos, all you hear is about how Barca are going to hammer us with bazillion goals, stupid people. I believe in my team come Tuesday night and any other day. COYG
I think the same and Barca to win 2 nil in return leg.
We should try and emulate the Leicester model.
Although Giroud is in decent touch and is likely to start. But I feel if Walcott or welbeck’s pace might be better suited to our game plan.
We’ll likely be overwhelmed if their full backs feel at liberty to bomb on. It may be that there’s not much we can do about it. Ramsey on the right would physically impede them a bit, but Walcott’s pace there might psychologically hold them back whilst giving us a chance to get on the front foot with Ozil picking passes. Walcott seems to like big games.
A hat-trick please Alexis.
We’ll win 2-0. Sanchez and Bellerin…!
Good shout. I’m gonna stick a tenner on that.
I really really think we would loose with a big margin – probably the biggest margin in our recent history. Sorry guys!
It’s hard to take you seriously when you say ‘loose’. Sorry bro but we aren’t slipping.
And that’s all from us here at the Emirates. It was Giroud who found the net after getting his head at the end of a beautiful Ozil cross. Suarez made it 1-1 with a low strike to the bottom right. Sanchez with a wonder strike from 25 yards out turned the tide in arsenals favor. And Ramseys deflected strike off of Mascherano put the game to bed. Arsenal, the unlikely winners tonight put out the raging Barca fire 3-1. It will be a noisy north London today
Amen
I’d take a nil nil draw. Away goals always ruin us.
I feel the only way we can beat them is to get at them early from the front. Close them down in midfield fast. If they get a run at Mert, we have had it.
Win, lose or draw, I’d be happy if we didnt give ourselves a mountain to climb in the second leg like we did in the years before. With coq back and with mesut , alexis and cech on the pitch, I feel we have a real chance to prevail over two legs unlike “pundit” predictions of total barca dominance.
I hope Walcott has the game of his life over the two legs and sets himself a new standard in his career.
Joel Campbell had the game of his life playing against olympiakos and his performance was pivotal to us winning on the day and ultimately qualifying.
Hoping and praying that Alexis has the game of his life and ultimately seeing us pass this humongous stumbling block called barca.
Arsene please put joel on that right hand side, he is a big game player will help bellerin in his defensive duties! and unleash walcott and welbeck in the last 20 minutes, if the score is still leveled. but the most important game of the week is sunday against man u. for me. the title is a real possibility.and the fa cup. barca have too much talent. i mean not even the trio but iniesta ; what a player!
COYG!
Out defense will be key..need mertcielny to absolutely boss it
with an attacking trio of alexis, giroud nd welbeck, barca are gonners today. COYG
would take messi tearing his metartasal and Mascherano sitting on the Ground a la Gallas as suarez tries to bite cech’s helmet in a 2-0 loss to us COYG
Arsenal 3 Barcelona 0
But I still believe; 2nil at home but 0-3 at their place… Alexis to score first 🙂