Battle at Barca

A match in Nou Camp can be a very hard affair, even if you hadnt lost your teams skipper to the home team in the last season. But Arsenal had indeed lost Henry to Barca. It was time for their young guns to step up, and fill the void. It was crunch time.

The match had all the markings of a being a thriller and it lived up to its expectations. Thomas Rosicky, the lively midfielder, ran through to what has now become a familiar sight for Arsenal fans, a defense spiitting through pass from Van Persie. He made no mistakes in netting the opening goal in the 6th minute to set up a pulsating encounter. The goal charged up Arsenal even more as they pressed and strung together several moves which were thwarted by an alert Valdes and a defense marshalled capably by the efficient Puyol. Slowly but surely the action was shifting from one end to the other.

Arsenal's defense knew that would have their hands full with Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Henry and Messi raiding their turf. They held strong though, and coupled with some luck were able to keep the marauding fab four of Barca. Henry had a screamer whistling past the post and Eto'o was time and again frustrated by a superb Lehmann.

Barca were attacking with real menace, when Arsenal increased the lead. Much against the run of play, Eduardo on a quick counter, slotted in the second goal in injury time in the first half.

Barca came out looking to break through in the second half. But Gallas & co held firm. Arsenal was also winning the midfield battle where fleet footed Fabregas was starting to feed Arsenal strikers on a regular basis.

After 90 tense minutes Arsenal hung on for the win, giving them 6 points from 3 games. Fabregas took home the Man of the match for his consistent performance in the midfield.

They now fly back home and have to prepare for Bayern Munich and an intriguing match between two of Germany's best keepers.