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Club Focus – Arsenal – Wilshere: We must change our game to beat Barcelona
Wednesday 16 February 2011
Ahead of one of the most eagerly anticipated encounters of the season, Arsenal’s precocious midfielder has been outspoken on the difficulties facing his side. Last year the Gunners crashed out of the Champions League at the hands of Barcelona but Wilshere, more than anyone, knows what a difference a year can make.
It is easy to forget that the No 19 played no part in last season’s campaign, and when offering his observations on last year’s clash, he provided a timely reminder of how far he has come: “I was at the Emirates for the first game against Barcelona last season and for the second one I was in Bolton, where I was on loan, watching on the television.” After a meteoric rise in intervening period, Wilshere will no longer be a mere observer, but is instead set to take centre stage. Arsenal fans will hope the team’s development mirrors that of their rising star as they prepare to do battle with Barça once again.
Comprising one third of Arsenal’s midfield triumvirate, Wilshere has shown remarkable composure on the ball, with his footballing intelligence ensuring he has quickly gained the confidence of teammates at club and international level alike. In offering his assessment of the challenge facing Arsenal, he has shown a similar intelligence, identifying: “We have to press them as a team, there's no point one of us going after them. We've got to change our game a bit to play against Barcelona.” December’s encounter against Chelsea demonstrated what a potent force the Gunners can be when they combine their natural passing patterns with a high intensity pressing game and a similar level of performance appears a necessity.
Theo Walcott was particularly effective in isolating the centre back in possession on that occasion and Lionel Messi spoke recently of his admiration for the winger: “I can only speak from experience but he was one of the most dangerous players I have ever played against.” Pep Guardiola was similarly laudatory after Walcott’s impact in last year’s first leg, prompting him to remark that once the Englishman is in full flight: “You would need a pistol to stop him.” In the second leg Guardiola cut off the supply at its source, starving Walcott of possession, thus negating his mercurial speed and as such, possession will again be key in determining the overall victor.
Spain won last summer’s World Cup utilising not only Barcelona’s players, but their mentality. Their ethos of possession football stems from Johan Cruyff’s tenure and the iconic Dutchman noted: “English football is so attractive. The teams trade blows and everyone gives the ball away a huge amount of the time,” before commenting decisively, “It is that, giving the ball away, and the inability to string three passes together, that makes it attractive, but Barcelona are not English and do not commit that sin. That is the difference.”
Perhaps Wilshere showed maturity beyond his years in suggesting Arsenal need to adapt. However, Arsenal is not a typical English team and the quintessentially English characteristics of determination and commitment may yet see them prevail.
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