Puyol ruled out of Arsenal showdown

BARCA skipper Carles Puyol is out of tomorrow night’s Champions League game against Arsenal, meaning the favourites will be minus both recognised centre halves.

Puyol has been out of action since the middle of January with a knee problem but, having returned to training, there was hope he would be available for the game at the Camp Nou.

Following Barca’s 1-0 victory over Real Zaragoza on Saturday, assistant coach Tito Vilanova said: “He’s a lot better and we didn’t play him tonight more out of precaution than anything else. We’ll see how he is in training on Sunday and Monday.”

However, it was decided yesterday he would not be fit for the match and, with Gerard Pique absent through suspension, Barca will be without both their first-choice central defenders.

Although Vilanova handled the post-match press conference, Pep Guardiola had recovered sufficiently from his slipped disc to take his place on the touchline for Saturday’s game.

“I hope he will be available on Tuesday against Arsenal,” Vilanova said. “I thought he looked a lot better than against Valencia. We all know he has made a great effort and we are all very grateful to him for that. Let’s hope he continues to get better.”

One man who is fit is Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere, who reassured Arsenal’s fans via Twitter of his wellbeing.

The midfielder was the victim of several heavy challenges in the Premier League match against Sunderland on Saturday. But Wilshere tweeted he believes he will be available. “Just to let you know I am not injured and if selected will be fit to face Barca! Few kicks but nothing too bad!” he wrote on his Twitter account.

It will be a relief for Arsenal, who are without several first choice player. Cesc Fábregas is a doubt, as is Alex Song, while Robin Van Persie and Theo Walcott are all out, alongside more long term injuries like Thomas Vermaelen.

Arsène Wenger knows Arsenal will need a flawless defensive display to fend off Barcelona. “It will be very important for us to defend well because when you go to the most effective attacking team in the world, you want to have your best defenders available,” he said.

“We will look to defend well and attack well. We are not a team that will refuse to attack, we know that.

“The challenge will be to find the right balance between having a team who can defend, as well as one that has a good opportunity, every time it has the ball, to go forward.”

Any nerves that existed during the Carling Cup Final defeat to Birmingham will not affect Arsenal at the Nou Camp, according to Wenger.

The manager admits the unique nature of a Final may have added a new, unfamiliar pressure to that of other ‘big games’. But Wenger believes his players are equipped to cope with the expectation.

“Wembley was a special occasion for the first time for some players,” said the manager. “It was more than the game, it was the trophy. That is the first time they have experienced that. But big games, they have played plenty home and away so that will not be a problem for us in Barcelona.

“We have to take a distance from the Carling Cup Final now and just play our game.”

He added: “I know that this team will become stronger and stronger. How quickly? It is very difficult to predict.”