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Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba insists that their round-of-16 opponents Arsenal might make things difficult for the Catalan giants. Alba is currently in Japan with the Barcelona squad who are set to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup.
The UEFA Champions League draw for round-of-16 took place on Monday which saw defending champions being drawn against the Gunners. This will be the eighth match between the two sides in Champions League history, with Arsenal coming out on top only once out of the previous seven occasions.
However, Alba feels that the North-London side are currently in good form and they have the kind of players who are good with the ball and can raise problems for the Blaugrana.
“They’re a very complicated opponent who from midfield to the forwards have players who are very good with the ball,” he said.
“I’m sure they’ll make things difficult. Every year is different but this time it will be made more complicated by the players Arsenal have this season.”
Arsenal and Barcelona faced each other in the Champions League final in 2006 at the Stade de France, which saw the Catalan team score two goals in the final 15 minutes to overturn the one-goal deficit and lay claim to the prestigious trophy. The last time the two teams faced each other was in the 2010/11 round-of-16 match when a Messi brace and a goal from Xavi sank the Gunners’ ship. Since then Arsenal have been knocked out in the round-of-16 for five continuous seasons.
Arsenal must be delighted with the draw: Ian Wright
On the other hand, Arsenal legend Ian Wright, who scored 185 goals for the Gunners in 288 matches feels that Arsenal must be happy with the draw.
“Arsenal must be delighted at being picked to play Barcelona - as weird as that sounds,” Wright said.
“Far from being daunted, Arsenal should relax, enjoy it and see what happens.”
“Let's face it, more often than not they go out at this stage of the tournament anyway and no one is really expecting them to win it this season. When they play Barcelona, Arsenal will be massive underdogs and no one will give them a prayer. That immediately lifts all the pressure off them.”
“They will be free to express themselves and show what they are capable of when everybody around the world will be expecting nothing from them - so there is no risk.”
