Spanish giants Barcelona arrive in North London this evening to take on Arsenal in the first knockout round of the Champions League, with the Gunners faithful here in the Transfer Tavern eagerly anticipating the tie.
With the Catalan juggernauts in superb form in La Liga, the task for Arsenal to reach the quarter-finals looks almost impossible on paper, but we know the age old saying, that football isn’t played on paper!
The Gunners have some talented players of their own and one Gunners die-hard here in the Tavern is in typically optimistic mood, and believes that if Arsenal perform as they can, they will provide the Spanish side with a stern test.
It begs the question of which Gunners players would get a regular game in the Barcelona side right now.
We tasked our writer Lee Clarke, with choosing FIVE current Arsenal players who would definitely play for Barcelona on a regular basis……
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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE FIVE PLAYERS!
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Hector Bellerin
The Spanish right-back has earned rave reviews of late with a series of energetic performances on the right-hand side of the Arsenal back four.
With Dani Alves getting older, you have to say that Bellerin would be just as good in that position for Barcelona as the Brazilian on current form.
The 20-year-old is a really key part of the Arsenal team and his driving runs forward are a useful outlet for the Gunners when they break on the counter.
The youngster actually spent eight-years as a child at the Catalan giants and if keeps up his current rate of progression, what is to say that he won’t play for the first-team one day.
Mesut Ozil
Another current Arsenal player who would get into the current Barcelona side is the German maestro Ozil.
The 27-year-old has taken his time to adapt to life playing in the Premier League, but has answered his critics this season with a resounding 17 assists.
The World Cup winner is closing in on Gunners legend Thierry Henry’s record of 20 assists in a single season and on current form, very few would back against him hitting the landmark.
The thought of Barcelona’s front three with Ozil playing in the midfield three really is an enjoyable concept.
Petr Cech
Like a fine red wine, the Czech goalkeeper simply gets better with age.
That is not to say that the 33-year-old has ever been poor, but most goalkeepers begin to deteriorate at some stage, but there seems to be not letting up to Cech’s ability.
If Arsenal go on to secure themselves the Premier League title this season they will owe a large amount of gratitude to the ex-Chelsea stopper.
At £10 million he might just go down as one of, if not the best, signing of the summer too after a series of typically brilliant performances this season.
Alexis Sanchez
On top form Arsenal’s Chilean forward would get in any team in the word, and that includes the current crop of superstars at Barcelona.
The 27-year-old was arguably hard done by when he was sold by the Catalans in 2014 but he hasn’t sulked and wallowed in self-pity. Instead he has set about showing Barca exactly what they are missing.
Sanchez has netted 22 goals in 53 appearances for the Gunners and that is despite a prolonged spell on the treatment table earlier this season.
The Gunners paid £35 million for the services of the little magician but he has already proved himself as one of the best players to ever wear the famous red of Arsenal.
Santi Cazorla
If one man in the Gunners side fits into the Barcelona side perfectly it is the little Spanish midfielder.
At 31-years-old, theoretically speaking Barcelona probably would look towards a younger performer for their team right now but in terms of ability, Cazorla would be an asset in the current team.
His style of play is perfect for the free-flowing, dynamic style of play which boss Luis Enrique tries to utilise and his eye for a pass is still phenomenal.
The midfielder boasts 77 caps for Spain, which in this era that has seen so many great Spanish midfielders, is no mean feat.
