Arsenal vs FC Barcelona
Competition: UEFA Champions League
Date: Tuesday, 23 February - Time: 19:45 GMT
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London, United Kingdom
Competition: UEFA Champions League
Date: Tuesday, 23 February - Time: 19:45 GMT
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London, United Kingdom
Arsenal team side have won 11 and lost only one of their last 15 home games
in all competitions. They drew a blank at home against Hull City in the English
FA Cup on Saturday but things do look a little better in the Premier
League as they recently beat title rivals Leicester City at EMirates to
close the gap at the top of the table to just two points.
Wenger rested several key players last weekend. The French manager has passed Ozil fit but Mikel Arteta will miss the game due to a calf injury. The Spaniard joins Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere, Gabriel Paulista and Tomas Rosicky on the sidelines. Aaron Ramsey, Olivier Giroud and former Barca forward Alexis Sanchez are all likely to be back in the starting line-up.
Wenger rested several key players last weekend. The French manager has passed Ozil fit but Mikel Arteta will miss the game due to a calf injury. The Spaniard joins Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere, Gabriel Paulista and Tomas Rosicky on the sidelines. Aaron Ramsey, Olivier Giroud and former Barca forward Alexis Sanchez are all likely to be back in the starting line-up.
FC Barcelona are unbeaten across all competitions for over four months (32
matches) and hold an eight-point lead at the top of La Liga. They have
won 12 and lost only one of 20 road fixtures in the 2015/16 campaign.
The Catalans have already reached the Copa del Rey final, and an
unprecedented second consecutive treble seems to be within their grasp.Luis Enrique brings an almost full squad to London this week, with only Arda Turan ruled out through suspension and the injured Rafinha. The coach will be boosted,by the return of defender Gerard Pique, who was rested at the weekend, and defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets from suspension. Suarez, Neymar and Messi are all expected to start as usual while Rakitic and Iniesta will feature in the middle of the park.
The Gunners have been eliminated at this stage of the competition in each of the last five seasons. Arsenal and Barcelona's seven previous UEFA Champions League encounters have produced 27 goals, an average of 3.86 per game.
Probable lineups:
Arsenal: Cech – Bellerin, Paulista, Koscielny, Monreal – Coquelin, Ramsey – Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Sanchez – Giroud.
FC Barcelona: Bravo – Dani Alves, Mascherano, Pique, Jordi Alba – Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta – Messi, Suarez, Neymar.
FC Barcelona: Bravo – Dani Alves, Mascherano, Pique, Jordi Alba – Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta – Messi, Suarez, Neymar.
