Couldn’t Be Worse For Arsenal and Chelsea, Jamie Carragher Reflects On

Arsenal were handed a nightmare draw against reigning champions Barcelona as the Gunners attempt to go beyond the last-16 stage of the Champions League for the first time in six years.

“We are certain to see a sporting spectacular”, Albert Soler, the Barcelona director, said.

In-form Barcelona sits at the top of the Spanish league despite drawing its last two matches, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has to work out how to achieve the seemingly impossible – keeping attackers Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar quiet.

“They will be two great games”.

When Barcelona were pulled out of the hat after Arsenal in today’s Champions League draw, this picture pretty much summed up most of their fans’ immediate reaction…

Both PSG and Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea are defending their respective domestic league titles this season, though the Londoners are facing a tougher time of it at present.

Instant reaction to the draw wasn’t great, with many greeting the tie with a sense of repetition and boredom.

“Barca will have to be very focused and completely switched on because from now on there is no chance of rectifying any mistakes; during the group stages you still have room for error, but from now on, no”.

Manchester City look to have by far the easiest test, landing Dynamo Kiev, who were second in Chelsea’s group.

This source apparently said, “This is the draw we wanted”.

Regardless of the empty terraces, City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain warned of any complacency.

Although the club itself might point to some sort of typo to explain the freakish mistake, it seems odd to think that Brondby IF were the team selected, considering that they did not even feature in this year’s competition.

“They are a strong side, but they like to play football and it is just 11 vs 11”.

Manchester City, meanwhile, was drawn against Dynamo Kyiv, the Ukrainians who are now undergoing a three-game stadium ban imposed by UEFA, for racist behavior towards Chelsea supporters in Kiev’s Olympic stadium in November.

Gent, in their first participation in the competition, are to take on Germany’s VfL Wolfsburg.

The French giants were drawn alongside the Blues in the Round of 16 of Europe’s premier club competition with the first leg to take place at Parc des Princes on February 16.

There still will be a lot of belief in the Arsenal camp after their great escape from their group stage and that could peter into the team against Barcelona.