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.”