Sport: Uefa Champions League - Arsenal 2 Barcelona 2
Published: 1 April 2010
by STEVE BARNETT
ARSENE Wenger admitted his side “were lucky” not to already be out of the Champions League following last night’s (Wednesday) first-leg tie against Barcelona.
The Frenchman insists his side can now qualify for the semi-finals after the Gunners came from two goals down to draw 2-2 in a pulsating night at the Emirates.
A relieved Wenger said afterwards: “We played against a great team, who were dominant in the early stages.
“My only regret was the way we gave away the goals. We were lucky that the game was still goalless at half-time, but then we gave away two cheap goals. The whole team was mentally unbelievable. Barcelona could have killed us off, but we can make life difficult for them in the second-leg and can still qualify,” Wenger added.
Arsenal will need a special night in Europe on Tuesday if they are to progress into the final four, especially as they will have to do it without Cesc Fabregas, who was booked and is now suspended for the Camp Nou showdown. Andrey Arshavin and William Gallas are also out after picking up calf injuries.
Gunners’ captain Fabregas scored a crucial penalty to complete a remarkable comeback for the home side.
Substitute Theo Walcott brought Arsenal back into the game after two well-taken goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic looked to have put the tie beyond Wenger’s team.
If this had been a boxing match, the referee would have stopped the contest after 15 minutes.
Arsenal were chasing Catalan shadows, and not getting anywhere near them.
Had it not been for the efforts of Manuel Almunia the tie would have been over, and the return fixture on Tuesday would have been a painsaking ordeal.
The Spanish shot-stopper denied both Sergio Busquets and Ibrahimovic with brilliant one-handed saves, as well as sticking out a leg to block a goal-bound shot from Lionel Messi.
In a frantic opening Almunia also made a great diving save to deny Xavi.