3 Super Reasons Why Arsenal Can Defeat Barcelona In The UEFA Champions League Knockout Stage

The Champions League draw took place earlier today and the fear could be seen on the faces of the Arsenal supporters. Coming second in their group didn’t work out and they now have to face one of the two teams that everyone might have wanted to avoid.

Barcelona is the team that Arsenal have to face and earlier they only had to deal with a certain Messi but this time around with the likes of Luis Suarez and Neymar banging in the goals, it certainly won’t be an easy task for the Premier League team.

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. We provide three reasons why Arsene and Arsenal could well provide a great upset against the Catalan giants in the UEFA Champions League.

They beat Bayern and Barcelona aren’t invincible

Arsenal weren’t given a chance of making it through their Champions League group after their first two losses but the team did defeat Bayern at home. They then won their final game away from home and that could well give them the push they needed. Arsenal pretty much have made all the mistakes they could have in the group stage and that would serve as a learning curve for them.

Barcelona aren’t invincible as seen in the weekend when they let a two goal lead slip at home. With the likes of Ozil, Sanchez and Giroud in form, they could well harm Barcelona in greater ways than expected. Barcelona should be wary of the counter by Arsenal as that is lethal.

Players are returning from injury

The Gunners have been extremely unlucky with injuries but come the first leg on 16^th February, Arsenal could have a lot of players back who would be fresh to take on Barcelona. Coquelin, Wilshere and Cazorla could well be back against the Catalan club, which would be a major boost for the club.

Arsenal have had to deal with a ton of injuries but these players coming back would certainly strengthen them and prepare them for the battle that is against one of the most feared attacks in the world. Barcelona probably won’t even know what they are dealing with, they might not have the squad depth that Arsenal have but they do have a better first XI than the Gunners.

Petr Cech could hold the key

Lionel Messi might not be the only person who could score the important goals for Barcelona but he certainly is an important cog for them. Barcelona might be thanking Luis Suarez for his goal scoring touch but Messi is the main man at the club and the Argentine does not hold a great record against Arsenal’s only signing this season, Petr Cech.

Messi hasn’t scored in the seven games he has played against the former Chelsea goalkeeper and there is one more bit of information which could push the luck to Arsenal’s side. Cech hasn’t been defeated in the last seven times he has faced Barcelona, sometimes you need a bit of luck to overcome the bigger teams.