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Concerns over the approach that Arsenal and Barcelona might adopt in their Champions League tie to lean towards safety might have been assuaged by the teams’ coaches before the match. Barcelona will not change their style in order to win because their present methods have already proven effective. Guardiola is confident that regardless of who plays in the team, the Spanish giants will have the means of stopping the Gunners. Even though Iniesta will be their biggest casualty for the first game at the Emirates Stadium, Guardiola has many ready-made replacements. His only problem now would be who to pick from a fine selection of capable substitutes to fill the gap.
Arsene Wenger will never force all his Arsenal players to become more pragmatic instead of being adventurous. Instead, the Frenchman wants football to be played the way it was meant to but with his players doing it with a desire to win. That means having the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Robin Van Persie, Andrei Arshavin and Samir Nasri to express their full array of attacking qualities. There is a doubt over the availability of Fabregas for the match. Wenger will be hoping the Catalonian midfielder can take his place in Arsenal and help his team face Barcelona. There are inextricable links between Arsenal and Barcelona but professional duty will be adhered to.
Two past legends from the London club will feature in each of the two teams involved in the Arsenal vs Barcelona live stream radio and there will be references to their past. Frenchman Thierry Henry was part of an effervescent Arsenal team that dominated English football for a considerable time. Henry is now plying his trade with Barcelona as he should finish his European career there. Then there is Sol Campbell who returned to the Gunners and now faces an ironic rematch against Barcelona whom he scored against in the 2006 Champions League final involving the clubs. There will be high emotions for the two players but for 90 minutes, they will only have winning on their minds.