Friends reunited
As the sides best representing the purist football played in England and in Europe, I had hoped they’d face each other in the Champions League final in Madrid on May 22.
Such is life.
As it is, it looks like we’ve a wonderful quarter-final in prospect. There are so many strands that link the two clubs aside from the style of football that they play. There’s Cesc Fabregas, who was tutored at the Nou Camp and is continually linked, increasingly so, with a move back to Barcelona.
And how the Catalans would love that to happen: imagine the Arsenal skipper in tandem with the marvellous Xavi and Iniesta for club as well as country, week in, week out. Barcelona would probably be untouchable with that midfield: as I suspect Spain will be this summer in South Africa.
Then, too, there’s Thierry Henry. I think the Frenchman will find it very difficult to play against his ‘first love’. He still stands out as the greatest player to feature in Arsene Wenger’s time at Arsenal and easily vies with Roy Keane and, now, Wayne Rooney, as the best anywhere in the Premiership era.
It’s ironic that it was Henry, four years ago, who was best placed to ease Wenger’s pain at not adding the Champions League to his considerable roll of honour. I remember, vividly, Henry cutting in from the right towards the Barcelona penalty area in Paris, his side still leading 1-0 despite being down to 10 men after the red card for Jens Lehmann. Had Henry made it 2-0, it would have been game over. He didn’t when, nine times out of 10, you’d have expected him to score. So, if Henry plays a substantial part in knocking Arsenal out, there’ll be regrets for him as well as for Wenger. Because, don’t let the Arsenal manager fool you, it really hurts that he hasn’t won this competition and I’ll bet he’d have far preferred to meet any other of the six quarter-finalists allowing his gifted side to ‘grow’ as the competition continues: not least in terms of getting key players back from injury.
I wouldn’t say this tie will be won in the first leg unless Barcelona triumph at the Emirates. That, I fear, would leave Arsenal with too much to do in the return. But, Wenger is right, the European Champions are favourites.
If it wasn’t for the massive counter attraction of the tie in north London, Bayern Munich v Manchester United would be the standout quarter-final. Having avoided Barcelona and Arsenal, Alex Ferguson probably didn’t mind who United drew but I’d be a little worried by the Germans. Aside from having their own score to settle – it’s too easily forgotten they were the better side in the 1999 final – Bayern are far better than useful.
Franck Ribery may be moving on to Spain at the end of this season – it won’t be England, his wife couldn’t stand the weather! – but, for the moment, he and Arjen Robben probably represent the best dual wing threat in European club football (Robben’s injury doubt would be a huge blow to Bayern). Though events since have proved Fergie right – Valencia and, to a lesser degree, Nani have both blossomed – I thought the United boss should have made a big move for Ribery when Ronaldo left.
However, unlike Arsenal, United have the second leg at home. The draw was good for them. Get through, French opposition in the semi-final, and the favoured bet for May is a repeat of last season’s final in Rome.
