Messi "Braced" Through Arsenal's Bus

Messi scored twice against Arsenal who play the boring "park the bus" instead of attacking football. You cant blame them when the opponent is Barcelona.


Final score: Barcelona 3 Arsenal 1; though Gunners had ZERO shot on goal. Busquest accidentally scored an own goal from Nasri's corner, helping Arsenal to tie the score after a welltaken goal by Messi.

The first goal was the result of a backflick gone wrong by Fabregas. Maybe he was thinking of Iniesta as his teammate. Iniesta got the ball, found a small space between Arsenal's defenders and chipped the ball to Messi who was on the run. Messi showed why he is the best footballer in the world - by thousand miles - by a perfect chip past Almunia before slotting the ball into the net!

The second goal came after quick delightful passes by Iniesta to Villa and then to Xavi who scored with slight deflection off Arsenal's defender. After the goal, Barcelona wasted no time in search of the third and winning goal! Pedro was brought down inside the penalty box by Kolcshieny as he chased after a through pass by Xavi. As a result, the referee awarded a penalty to Barcelona. All eyes were on Messi as he placed the ball on the penalty spot! Messi stylistly converted the penalty and was mobbed by his teammates in front of Arsenal's goalmouth!

Arsenal nearly scored in the 87th minute but Mascherano did a great job to deny Bendtner from scoring the decisive goal. At the end, it was a great night for Barcelona and the fans. Arsenal was totally OUTCLASSED, OUTPLAYED and OUT-KICKED by Barcelona. Even Guardiola forgets his backpain as he celebrates ecstatically! Great job Barcelona! Hats off to Guardiola!!

Can Messi score 5 goals against Arsenal?

Nothing is impossible for the little Messiah from Argentina. If indeed Messi score 5 goals against Arsenal, one better than last year, the world will take note! And Barcelona will gain more supporters since EPL has the most viewers all around the world except Spain.

Barcelona will be without their top two central defenders, Puyol and Pique, similar to the second leg match at Nou Camp last year. As long as Barcelona midfielders control the game from the start, I see no big trouble at the back. Iniesta, well-rested against Zaragoza, will play a key part in this match together with Xavi. Maybe Xavi will score the first goal, just like the match against Real Madrid.

Again, Messi should take the center stage and all eyes will be on him to score five goals past Szczesny, the new goalie for Arsenal. Villa, fresher from little playing time against Zaragoza, will have the support of Messi, Xavi and Iniesta.

Fulltime score:
Barcelona 5 Arsenal 1

My prediction is Messi will score at least ONE hattrick in this match. :)

What's your take?


Enjoy beautiful football, one more time!!!

Barcelona vs Arsenal (9 March 2011, 3.45am Malaysia/Singapore time)

The God's Given Lionel Messi

"It shouldn't have taken last night to realise it."

That's right!

Contemplating a move to Barcelona, Spain. :)

"Messi is the best player in the world, by a distance!" Arsene Wenger

And I have one for Messi too:

"The God's Given Lionel Messi"

We will never had enough of you!

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'Mythical, universal, the Lord's anointed one' - Spain hails Leo MessiAfter Lionel Messi's performance against Arsenal everyone agrees he's the best in the world - but what took them so long?

Leo Messi did something impossible last night. He got even better (and still he can play better!). He had scored in the Champions League final (what a header!), the Copa del Rey final and the World Club Cup final (with his chest! i think he's the first to score, purposely, with this technique!), emulated that goal from Diego Maradona, hit three in the clasico against Real Madrid at the Camp Nou, two at the Santiago Bernabéu, and scored two hat-tricks in a row. But he'd never scored four before. Until last night. Last night, even Marca and AS, the myopic leaders of the Madrid media dropped to their knees; last night, so did the English. They could ignore him no more. Last night, as El PaÌs, put it, "Messi ate Arsenal". (Messi Shrunk Arsenal) :D

AS has long been proud of its cagumetro - literally, crapping-yourself-o-meter - the tool used to 'measure' the fear they claim grips Barcelona fans every time Real Madrid rear into view, its needle furiously twitching before shooting up towards a million cagahertz. This morning, three days from the clasico, they're applying it to themselves. "Messi," declares the cover of AS, "is frightening". Inside, their headline chanted: "Messi! Messi! Messi! Messi!", while the inventor of this delightful device, Barça-baiter-in-chief Tomas Guasch, was busy saying a prayer: "Ay Manuel Pellegrini, may God guide you!" As for Marca, their cover asks: "And how do we stop this guy?"


It is a pertinent question. Booting him about doesn't seem to work; he just gets even more determined. And besides, it is easier said than done. A few weeks ago, the Mallorca manager Gregorio Manzano insisted that the only way was with a rifle.Last night, Arsene Wenger described him as "a PlayStation footballer". The Catalan daily Sport calls him "football's Picasso", insisting: "We're going to have to expand the dictionary to find new adjectives for him, because majestic, lethal, magic, incomparable and divine have all been used up." Its website implored fans: "Don't say football, say Messi." El Mundo Deportivo went for "mythical, universal, the Lord's anointed one." But most cut out the middle man. "There is," said El Mundo, "only one God: Messi".

Arsenal players, from left: 1"Is that going in??" 2 Its going innn!! 3 OMFM thats unbelievable!!!


But all that's not entirely new. It's less than two weeks since Spain's severe superlatives shortage was reported on these pages. Uncovering new adjectives is an impossible task. Victor Valdés was only the latest person to admit defeat, shrugging: "I can't find the words to define him - I'm just very proud that he's on my team." What was new was seeing Marca and AS lead with him on the cover, and Marca's cartoonist depicting Messi as a little green man with antenna on his head and long, horn-shaped ears under the caption: "From another planet".


So was the reaction from England, the unanimous acclaim. "Messi," said Wenger, "is the best player in the world - by a distance." At last everyone seemed to agree; 90 minutes against Arsenal had done the trick. Even Phil Thompson must have given in, despite recently declaring: "Wayne Rooney is streets ahead of Messi." (Which streets, Phil, which bloody streets?!) Yes, which blooody hell streets???

Watching the game on Sky, browsing blogs, reading reports, it's tempting to conclude that England discovered Leo Messi last night. What took you? A match against an English club, that's what. As if that's the only measure of greatness. It shouldn't have done. They shouldn't have discovered him against Arsenal; he has hardly been hidden away.

The winning "Phenomenal" team minus top two defenders

"I really don't want to compare Leo with any other player in the world because that other player would come off so badly - he's just so far ahead." That's what Xavi Hernandez said. A year ago. Yesterday he added: "A player like this only comes along every 30 years or so." (i dont agree with you Xavi, its once in a century!) Rafa Marquez said: "Messi has proven once again that he is the best in the world." The key words were 'once' and 'again'. They would say that of course. But does anyone doubt that they are right?


This is not the place to go over Messi's extraordinary qualities again, that's been done before. It is the place, though, to point something out...


What Messi did last night was brilliant. In fact, it was more brilliant that the goals alone suggest. Just look at the two he didn't score - the curler that clipped the top of the goal, the scamper through that ended with him hitting it into the side-netting. Look at the fact that he didn't just score the first two; it was his passes that made them as well. But, ridiculous though this sounds, last night's performance was not unusual. In fact, it is precisely the consistency of his brilliance that has seen it become almost mundane; he makes the ridiculous routine.


When he scored a hat-trick against Zaragoza a fortnight ago, one fan started shouting something about how brilliant he is. Pep Guardiola approached the fan and replied: "If it wasn't for him, I'd be a third division coach." Last night he became their all-time top scorer in the Champions League. He is top scorer in this season's La Liga. He has provided more assists than anyone else, too. Yesterday was his fourth hat-trick of the season. He has scored 119 goals for Barcelona and he's still only 22.


It is not just about the spectacular. Earlier this season, asked about the pressure on Messi after a 'poor' game, Guardiola insisted: "Messi can play badly as often as he likes." Thing is, Messi never plays badly, even when he plays 'badly'. Sometimes he is not spectacular, sure, but he is never poor. Take the first leg against Arsenal: most people will tell you that Messi did little, but he had more than twice as many shots on target than anyone else and played more passes than any Arsenal player. He even answers the cliché about tracking back and work-rate: Messi has committed more fouls than any Barcelona defender.


One former Barcelona and Real Madrid player makes the point that when Ronaldo plays a pass, the first thing he does is demand it back. Messi is happy just to play, to keep it simple, to keep it moving (Thats the key - attitude). At the Camp Nou only one Arsenal player completed as many passes. Increasingly, Messi is not just scoring but - with Xavi, surely the finest midfielder Spain has ever produced - running games too. Sir Alex Ferguson admitted he was "surprised" to see Messi play centrally in Rome last season but he shouldn't have been. As one opponent puts it: "Messi is the best striker for his goals, the best winger for his dribbling, the best midfielder for his passes." That night in Rome Messi did what Messi always does: answered the questions asked of him. There is just one question left - the Argentina one. And on the evidence so far, he will end up answering that too.

Simply Genius!!!

They said he didn't do it in big games - although goodness knows how they had the cheek to say that; did the clasico and the cup final not count? - so he did it in the Champions League final. They said he had never scored against an English team, and after a game in Santander it had been noted that he could not head a ball. Guardiola replied: "I advise you not to question Leo. One day, he's going to score a great header and shut you all up." Everyone laughed. He scored with a towering header, outjumping Rio Ferdinand.


But still they wanted more, and more, and more. There seemed to be a strange, bloody-minded determination not to recognise him. So Messi provided it. He started racking up goal after goal but they said that anyone could score goals in Spain. So last night he became top scorer in the Champions League. For the second successive season. And, for those who had forgotten Rome, he obliterated Arsenal into the bargain. Now they're saying Messi is the best player in the world. It shouldn't have taken last night to realise it.

Messi 4 Arsenal 1

The title says it all!

Messi had at least six chances to score. He could have score doublehattrick, but still he's the top scorer now with 8 goals in the Champions League! Cheers!!

Enjoy!

Barcelona vs Arsenal - Match of the Week?

Barcelona will take on Arsenal at Nou Camp tonight (2.45am). This match stands to attract a lot of attention given beautiful football played by the teams, especially Barcelona, in the first leg last week. I would like to see Boyan get started alongside Messi and Pedro, after his solid performance against Athletico Madrid. Gasquet just need to be wary by not slipping the ball away again! -which made way for Arsenal to score their first goal.

Messi should take the centre stage and show us some great dribbling skills. LOL! My prediction is Messi to score 2 goals tonight.

Fulltime score Barcelona 3 Arsenal 1!

Good news for Barcelona, Iniesta is named in the squad against Arsenal!

Enjoy beautiful football! Peace!

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FC Barcelona vs Arsenal Preview - Let the Footballing Extravaganza Resume

Update : Iniesta named in the Squad to Face Arsenal
A week has passed since the Barca - Arsenal clash at the Emirates; meanwhile both teams won their corresponding League fixtures but still everyone is talking only about the match at Emirates. With the first leg ending at 2-2, the tie is still widely open. FC Barcelona slightly hold the upper hand with two away goals, but against a team like Arsenal, away goals may not matter. Both teams have a huge number of players out for this tie.

For FC Barcelona, captain Puyol is suspended along with Pique, Ibrahimovic is out of the second leg clash with an injury and Toure will be a doubtful starter. Meanwhile Iniesta is still recovering from his injury. Arsenal has a pretty bigger line of absentees - Gallas, Arshavin and Cesc Fabregas both are injured, the latter is anyway suspended for this leg.

Song is the latest one to be ruled out for the match at Barcelona. Arsene Wenger has announced the squad which will travel to Barelona - Manuel Almunia, Lukasz Fabianski, Nicklas Bendtner, Eduardo, Abou Diaby, Samir Nasri, Denilson, Fran Merida, Theo Walcott, Craig Eastmond, Tomas Rosicky, Armand Traore, Emmanuel Eboue, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna, Thomas Vermaelen, Sol Campbell, Mikael Silvestre

Messi and Xavi are the key Players for Barca
Barca fans will be hoping that the team has taken some lessons from the late comeback of Arsenal at the Emirates, especially Gaurdiola. Arsenal players showed that they are a resilient group and will not give up on the task that easily. Coming back from two goals down to earn a draw, Arsenal definitely have the momentum to take on Barca. But it is also to be seen how much the last gasp victory against Wolves taken out of this young bunch.

Arsene Wenger has identified Thoe Walcott as his main weapon against Barca. That means he will be looking to attack through the flanks more than he did in the home leg. Theo Walcott is certain to start the match and his pace on the right flank could spell trouble for Barca. Against Wolves, he was on fire on the right flank. In that background I would like to see Guardiola employ the traditional 4-3-3 formation against Arsenal, rather than the 4-2-3-1. But there are some interesting problems facing such a decision, which I will explain later.

A 4-2-3-1 formation will see Abidal and Alves being left alone to deal with the pace of Arsenal on the flanks. Meanwhile Lionel Messi had an average match by his standard in the first leg ( only by his standard, otherwise had a good match), would be looking to show off his skills more effectively against Arsenal.


Read more: http://www.allaboutfcbarcelona.com/2010/04/fc-barcelona-vs-arsenal-champions.html


Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted that Pep Guardiolas Barcelona side is the best team he has ever seen.

Views on Barcelona's match against Arsenal

Missed out the first 20 minutes of the game. Sigh! My friends told me that Barca played probably their best 20 minutes of football game in any competition. Even a good team like Arsenal also cannot tahan. I will make sure I wake up early for Nou Camp match next week! From the first half highlights, I noticed that Barcelona failed too score mostly because of poor finishing.



Barca played better in the first half vs 2nd half. Even though they scored both goals in the second half, its not spectacular goal or involve great movements. The first goal was really simple, and you can blame the defenders, or Pique for the neat cross.

Watch the highlights here:


The second goal was a masterpiece cross by Xavi. You need someone like Xavi in every team. He is a very visionary midfielder. Coupled with strikers that know how to find space and run to the ball, thats all you need to score goals. And Xavi and Ibrahimovic showed its really simple.

Messi didnt perform well. I would like to see something special from him in the next match.

Its not easy to play with Barcelona. Arsenal lost at least 3 players with Fabregas, Gallas and Arshavin unavailable for the next match. The red card for Puyol is imo harsh. Maybe Barcelona can appeal for that. For now, Puyol and Pique are not eligible to play the next game.

Looking forward to two beautiful games in the next two weeks. The return match at Nou Camp (Wed 7/4 morning) and the El Clasico (Sun 11/4 morning)!

Beautiful football game is what I like and how I play. :)

Man United shows Spurs Who's The King; Adebayor cant hide his emotion over Arsenal

Spurs's perfect record in the first four matches ended with a home loss to MU. Former Arsenal player Adebayor proved Wenger's mistake in offloading him to Man City. Chelsea, which I believe has a great chance to win the Premier League title this season, maintained their perfect record, victory number five out of five, with a winning goal scored in the last minute.

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Devils cut down Spurs

LONDON: Champions Manchester United recovered from conceding an early goal at Tottenham Hotspur to win 3-1 even though Paul Scholes was sent off after an hour yesterday.

Neighbours Manchester City passed their first major test of the season with flying colours by beating Arsenal 4-2 to make it four wins out of four.

Chelsea maintained their perfect record with their fifth win but needed a last-minute Florent Malouda goal for a 2-1 victory at Stoke City.

Yossi Benayoun scored a hat-trick as Liverpool ended their sticky run by thrashing Burnley 4-0 at Anfield.

The results take Chelsea to 15 points with Manchester United, Manchester City and Spurs all on 12.

After a big build-up it was a low-key first hour at Eastlands.

City went ahead with an own goal via the head of Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia with Arsenal levelling through Robin van Persie after 62 minutes.

City then cut loose with three goals in 10 minutes.

They regained the lead after 74 minutes through Craig Bellamy. Emmanuel Adebayor, City’s £25mil (US$41.74mil) summer signing from Arsenal, headed the third and Shaun Wright-Phillips then finished off a great breakaway.

Adebayor’s decision to run the length of the pitch to celebrate his goal earned him a booking but the Togo international, who has now scored in all four of City’s league games, was quick to apologise.

“I shouldn’t have done what I did but the emotion took over me and I’m sorry for what I’ve done,” he told Sky Sports. Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky got Arsenal’s late second.

Spurs, who had not beaten United in their last 19 meetings, went ahead inside a minute when in-form Jermain Defoe swept in a bicycle kick from a Peter Crouch knock-down.

Any thoughts of another upset win soon disappeared, though, as Ryan Giggs equalised with a free kick and Anderson’s first goal for the club had the visitors deservedly ahead at halftime.

United had midfielder Paul Scholes sent off for a second booking after an hour but remained the more dangerous side and wrapped up a terrific win with a length-of-the field counter-attack superbly finished by Wayne Rooney 13 minutes from time.

Last season Chelsea scored twice in the last three minutes to claim a 2-1 comeback win over Stoke at Stamford Bridge and they left the Stoke fans fuming with a repeat performance.

After Abdoulaye Faye had put Stoke ahead, Didier Drogba equalised with a well-taken shot in first-half injury time.

It was all Chelsea in the second half but they had to wait until the last minute for Malouda to snatch the winner.

Burnley’s hopes of adding the scalp of Liverpool to those of Manchester United and Everton were swept aside at Anfield.

Three for Benayoun and one for Dirk Kuyt were just reward for a dominant performance. — Reuters


http://www.thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2009/9/13/sports/4708073&sec=sports