Theo ready for Barca

Theo Walcott believes Arsenal's European date with Barcelona could be their biggest of the season.

The Gunners are set to face Barca in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages for the second season in a row.

They crashed out to the Catalan giants at the quarter-final stage last term, but will get the opportunity to exact revenge in the last 16 this year.

Prolonged progress is a priority for Arsene Wenger's side, so it is vital they take a positive result from the first leg of their meeting with Barca on Wednesday.

Walcott accepts as much, with the England international fully aware of how important the Emirates Stadium clash could be.

"We're looking forward to it, it's going to be a great, great battle," he said.

"It's one of the games you want to play in and hopefully the result can be different from last year [when the Gunners crashed out 6-3 on aggregate].
Massive

"I believe we can do much better than last season; we can't do worse to be honest.

"It's going to be an open game but these days when we lose the ball we try to get it back quicker.

"That's what we did against Chelsea and Manchester City and hopefully we can take that into the Barcelona game because it's a massive one this season, the biggest one I'm going to play in."

Walcott was on target when Arsenal entertained Barcelona last season but, having stepped off the bench on that occasion, he is hoping to make an even greater impact this time around.

"As a substitute you want to make a reaction straight away and I think I surprised them with my pace," he added to Arsenal TV.

"There's only so long they could last for, they lasted for about 70 minutes but they couldn't last 90 minutes.

"I think I surprised Maxwell, came up behind him and tucked it away. That inspired us to get the result we wanted [a 2-2 draw] and I want to be doing that from the starting line-up now."

Wiltshire made a very good point today in an interview stating they need to get in the faces of Barcelona.
Its no good letting them play, stay tight, close them down fast and work for the 2nd balls.
This combined with Walcott's pace and Van Persie's current form could be the undoing of Barca. It should be a cracker !

I hope Nasri is fit to play

Wiltshire and Song are crucial v Barca, they need to disrupt the threat of Xavi and Iniesta to stop the flow to Messi. Do that, they have a chance.
Wednesday could do for Wiltshire what the Inter games did for Bale earlier this season.

arshavin is real good also. we need a fully packed midfield in order to keep barca at bay

Sirius B wrote:arshavin is real good also. we need a fully packed midfield in order to keep barca at bay

I didnt know you were an Arsenal supporter Sirius :lol:
Good luck against Barca m8

Y I Man wrote:

Sirius B wrote:arshavin is real good also. we need a fully packed midfield in order to keep barca at bay

I didnt know you were an Arsenal supporter Sirius :lol:
Good luck against Barca m8

well i wouldnt say im a full on arsenal supporter because i like manu and newcastle aswell

Not many then :lol:

Push comes to shove though, who'd you prefer to win the title this year?

Hero wrote:Not many then :lol:

Push comes to shove though, who'd you prefer to win the title this year?

champions league = Arsenal
Premiership = ManU/Arsenal