Ibrahimovic draws comfort despite Arsenal fightback
Barca looked set to make next week’s quarter-final second leg at the Nou Camp a mere formality as they created chance after chance against shell-shocked Arsenal before a brace from Ibrahimovic at the start of the second half deservedly put Pep Guardiola’s side in the ascendancy.
However, the Catalan outfit ended up having to settle for a draw after Arsenal hit back through goals from Theo Walcott and Cesc Fabregas to leave the tie in the balance.
“They scored two goals late on, even so it’s a good result,” said the in-form Swede, who took his tally to five in Barca‘s last four games.
“I’m happy for the two goals, but more for the team. A 2-2 draw is a good result and we still have the return leg at home. We gave everything to win, but they’ve managed to score. This is the Champions League and you must play from start to finish, until the referee blows the whistle. We have to be positive ahead of the second game.”
Midfielder Xavi added: “We had a great game and we feel we were much superior to Arsenal. We had the chance to seal the tie. In the return leg we have to play with the same intensity. It was maybe our best game of the season and it’s a shame not to have won it.”
Barca full-back Dani Alves admitted to mixed feelings following the draw, which also saw first-choice centre-backs Carles Puyol (red) and Gerard Pique (yellow) picking up cards that will see them banned for the second leg.
“We are going away with a bitter-sweet taste in the mouth. We deserved to win. We had a great game against a great opponent,” he said.
“Although they were at home, we played well and we deserved more than we got. But despite everything, the result is good.”
Goalkeeper Victor Valdes added: “The absences of Puyol and Pique (for the second leg) are important, but the players in the squad have a lot of quality and they will be able to cover for them.”
However ex-Arsenal captain Thierry Henry knew full well not to write off his old team-mates as Barcelona looked to secure a place in the Champions League semi-finals.
“I was not surprised by what the Arsenal team did, not with these fans,” said Henry. “I have said it so many times that it always helps. They can be 2-0 down at home and if your fans start to boo you then it’s a different story – but the Arsenal fans were helping them, trying to make them come back in the game.
“However, I am not surprised at all because I know what can happen here.”
Henry added: “It did not look like they could come back, but at the end of the day they did it. That shows a team which is in the quarter-finals are difficult to beat. We need to be aware of a team like that. We do not concede a lot of goals, but they scored two against us, so that is a sign.”
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