Barcelona v Arsenal: what the Spanish papers are saying

06 April 2010 12:48
El Mundo: Preview:[LNB]"The 2-2 result of the first leg gives Arsenal options but the reigning European champions have got to be the favourites to go through to the semis. [LNB]"Guardiola is missing Puyol and Piqué and he must also choose who will play alongside Milito out of Márquez and Touré. [LNB]"Arsenal also have their injury worries. Not only are they missing their most important player in Cesc Fabregas but they will also be without Arshavin and Gallas." [LNB]El Pais: Barca have the advantage[LNB]"Looking to secure their place in the Champions League semi-finals tonight Barcelona have the advantage over Arsenal despite the 2-2 scoreline. [LNB]"Even though Pep Guardola will be without Puyol and Piqué in defence and has some decisions to make in his attacking options namely whether he uses Thierry Henry or not Arsenal travel to the Nou Camp with worse injury concerns. [LNB]"The heavy casualty list is no doubt Arsene Wenger's main concern. Among the ranks at the Gunners, Gallas, Fabregas and Arshavin are out. Nasri will hope to replace the Spaniard while Diaby and Walcott will be looking to start."[LNB]El Mundo deportivo: Barca v Arsenal, the night of the champions [LNB]X.Munoz writes: "Barcelona's most important match of the season has arrived and it's not against Real Madrid. Eliminating Arsenal tonight means Pep Guardiola's side are just two matches away from a Champions League final at the Bernabeu. [LNB]"0-0 or 1-1 will be enough for Barca tonight and Guardiola has stressed the importance of his squad maintaining their ambition and not reverting to speculation. [LNB]"Whatever happens, Barcelona being without some of their big name players will no be an excuse as Arsenal are facing the same problem. [LNB]"Barca are without Carles Puyol, Gerard Piqué and Zlatan Ibrahimovic while Arsene Wenger is missing William Gallas, Andrei Arshavin, Alex Song and above all other Cesc Fabregas. Guardiola has admitted he is toying with ideas of who to start in his head when it comes to choosing between Bojan Krkic, who is scoring goals at the moment, and Thierry Henry, who is reluctantly facing his former club. [LNB]"Play who you play, what is clear is Barcelona getting through tonight is the most important thing."[LNB]Gente blogs: FC Barcelona v Arsenal[LNB]"The second leg of this Champions league tie comes at a good time for Barcelona who are looking to secure their third consecutive European final. Guardola's squad proved their depth in their last league match which ended 4-1 in their favour against Athletic Bilbao. Besides all of this Barca have the advantage of two away goals which will prove vital if neither side manages to score tonight. [LNB]"These away goals, together with the injury worries facing Arsene Wenger, tilt the favour of the tie in Barcelona's direction."[LNB]

Source: Telegraph