Champions League: Barcelona v Arsenal

There’s talk of Fabregas and Van Persie coming off the treatment table to save Arsenal but the bigger problem they face, as always, is down the other end. With all due respect to Birmingham, if the Gunners were sent into panic by the presence of Zigic and Martins at Wembley then Messi, Villa and Pedro are likely to cause considerable consternation. Messi destroyed Wenger’s men with four goals in the Nou Camp less than 12 months ago and the evidence that Arsenal are any better equipped to cope now is flimsy.

The Argentinian maestro had an off game by his standards at the Emirates but the reigning World Player of the Year doesn’t make that a habit. Remarkably, he is nothing longer than 8/11 to score in 90 minutes, and the bookies think the Arsenal rearguard are in for a long night. Wenger isn’t foolish enough to think his side can play for a 0-0 draw and the customary attacking intent could well see the English team grab a goal in Spain. The problem is that one may not be enough and I could easily see a scoreline along the lines of 3-1 to Barcelona. This is a tempting 10/1 punt with Coral.