How should Arsene Wenger approach this match? If we try to contain the irrepressible Barcelona we will struggle to create chances and even just a 1-0 defeat would knock us out of another competition. Should we adopt our usual style we will leave too much space on the pitch and will be overrun as we almost were in the first leg. Ideally, the manager needs to find a compromise. 

Our first choice defensive midfielder is injured so Abou Diaby looks likely to fulfil the more defensive position in the midfield triangle. The Frenchman had a poor game on Saturday but was still superior to the sluggish Denilson. Diaby has the physical potential to be a dominant force but just needs to make sure he concentrates on every single pass as he is the expert at misplacing a pass when we are in a vulnerable position on the pitch. Wilshere and Fabregas will play just ahead of him and he could not ask for a better duo to link defence with attack so Diaby needs to concentrate on holding his position and finding a teammate with every pass. About always seems to struggle to find his confidence and fluency because of his constant injury setbacks but we need him to be at his best tonight.

Ahead of the midfield Nasri and Arshavin will provide support to either Marouanne Chamakh or Niklas Bendtner. Given that we will need a very mobile target man, Chamakh could be favourite to start the match. He works extremely hard off the ball and is quick over the ground so can provide a target for all of our midfielders to find when they are under pressure. Samir Nasri has proved that he can offer protection to the full backs but Andrei Arshavin has only recently discovered a comparable work ethic. We will need the Russian to work his socks off and Wenger will have to use his substitutes wisely as fatigue will undoubtedly set in later on in the game. 

All of this will be irrelevant if Barca finish the match in the first half an hour as they did last season so we will need our defence and goalkeeper to be completely switched on from the first whistle. Koscielny and Szczesny proved that they are capable of a classic howler in the Carling Cup Final but Gael Clichy is the man who will be the biggest worry to many Arsenal fans. He is frequently caught out of position but usually has the pace to recover the situation. Unfortunately he is up against Lionel Messi and Dani Alves tonight so he will be desperate for Arshavin to push Alves back to give him a fighting chance. Messi operated in very central areas in the first leg, finding some success in the first half but struggling in the second. He may well operate closer to the right hand flank this evening so Clichy and Koscielny will have to be prepared to track his runs rather than trying to play the offside trap that failed so frequently in the first half of the first leg.

Barcelona are missing Puyol and Pique so Busquets and Abidal will deputise in the centre of defence while Mascherano will come into midfield. These are obviously still top class players but their could be a weakness there, even if it is just caused by unfamiliarity and Wenger will be keen to make sure that we still committ players forward to put their defence under pressure.

It should be an entertaining match which is impossible to predict. All we can ask for is that the players do Arsenal proud. 

Photo: Action Images

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