SOCCER:ARSENAL COULD not defeat Barcelona, but they indicated to others that the feat can be accomplished. It is a lesson that ought to have been absorbed already, since Internazionale knocked out the then Champions League holders in the semi-finals last year before going on to take the trophy for themselves.
That, however, was a tie in which Jose Mourinho’s side had all their thoughts on defence for the second leg, with the 1-0 defeat sufficient for an aggregate win.
That approach is not consistent with Arsene Wenger’s usual attitude but his own methods almost succeeded on Tuesday even though the draconian dismissal of Robin van Persie had cut them to 10 men.
At the very end a better striker than Nicklas Bendtner would have scored from Jack Wilshere’s pass instead of being so clumsy that the challenge from Javier Mascherano became feasible.
Barcelona were, for all that, a far superior side who deserve their place in the quarter-finals for following a 2-1 loss at the Emirates with the 3-1 victory at the Camp Nou. Indeed they were a great deal more wasteful on their own pitch than Arsenal’s.
There was almost nothing for Wenger’s attackers to squander and the visitors did not contrive a shot on target, with their goal put into his own net by Sergio Busquets.
“We suffered more than we needed to. If you look at the two games the only thing that let us down was our ability to take our chances,” said Xavi Hernandez. “The result is not really a real reflection of the tie over two legs. We dominated the first game as much as the second.”
While Barcelona’s style is to be savoured for its intelligence and technique the tie with Arsenal confirmed, in a different way from the clash with Internazionale, that they are not unassailable.
On occasion they can be one-dimensional, even if it is the most chic of dimensions. The consciousness of that flaw was reflected in a supposedly incongruous acquisition.
In 2009 Barcelona paid €46 million for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and also included Samuel Eto’o in the deal with Internazionale. The forward has about him the air of the traditional predator and the Spanish club will have felt they lacked that trait, even if Lionel Messi is proving that prolific scoring sits easily with technical virtuosity.
Last summer a move on loan to Milan brought Ibrahimovic to his sixth club in 10 years. Any relationship with Pep Guardiola had foundered. All the same the initial enthusiasm for the Swede showed an understanding that Barcelona must guard against the risk, on a bad day, of becoming a self-parody.
Glorious as the side’s moves can be, it is absurd to speak as if Guardiola’s line-up were the culmination of the sport’s evolution. The berth in the last eight of the Champions League is well merited but they still came near to elimination despite the fact Arsenal were down to 10 men.
The referee, Massimo Busacca, evidently decided Van Persie, in the bedlam of a ground with 95,486 spectators, had heard the whistle for offside and wilfully went on to try a shot. A second caution was administered.
Even that did not make Barcelona wholly impregnable. They are in the last eight by rights but a more ruthless side than Arsenal would have had the audacity to score a late decider. The hosts were employing a makeshift central defence, even if the left-back Eric Abidal is an excellent deputy.
The hindrances were more severe for Arsenal. Theo Walcott was one of those unfit to play, although Wenger would have craved his speed on the counterattack. In addition, it was obvious that Van Persie and Cesc Fabregas were not in peak condition even if they did happen to be on the field at kick-off. Much went wrong for the Premier League side, including the dislocated finger that forced the replacement of the goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny with Manuel Almunia.
Barcelona could not completely stifle Arsenal’s hopes. The match was a reminder that neither Guardiola’s side nor any other is to be taken as the apotheosis of football. The sport has compelled for so long because of its very diversity.
Barcelona might not plan to score with, say, thundering headers from old-fashioned centre-forwards after well-aimed crosses by wingers, yet that too is an authentic if now rare delight. For the sake of public interest and variety of the sport, it is essential that games with Barcelona should not all be played on Guardiola’s terms.
GuardianService
Charged Wenger, Nasri face bans
ARSENE Wenger and Samir Nasri have been charged by Uefa for comments made to referee Massimo Busacca on Tuesday.
The Arsenal manager and midfielder have been charged with improper conduct for "inappropriate language" towards the Swiss official.
The disciplinary case will be heard by Uefa on St Patrick's Day. If found guilty Wenger may receive a two-game touchline ban while Nasri would miss two games.
Arsenal will discover today how long they will be without Wojciech Szczesny, who dislocated his finger at the Camp Nou, and if Cesc Fabregas, who aggravated his hamstring problem, will miss Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford.
