Arsenal and Barcelona will face off in a massive Champions League Last 16 match up. This first leg will take place from the Emirates Stadium in north London, and the Gunners will surely be looking to gain some kind of lead to take with them to the intimidating Nou Camp for the second a decisive leg. Today's game has a scheduled start time of 7.45 p.m. GMT (2.45 p.m. ET) and can be watched online through Fox Soccer live stream via the link below.
The Gunners will put back in Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Petr Cech to their line up after resting the trio for their FA Cup 5th Round game against Hull last weekend.
Meanwhile, Barcelona will be re-calling Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets, after Pique was rested for their precious game at Las Palmas, and Busquets was out on suspension.
These two teams have become familiar foes in the Champions League, and the Gunners will know all too well that they cannot afford even a minor lapse of concentration or focus if they are to stand a chance against the Spanish giants.
With a trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar, the Catalan club are ready to strike as soon as any moment of weakness is shown by an opposition.
Over the years both teams have gained reputations for playing football in the beautiful way, using possession, and flowing, passing football. However, it is undoubtedly the fact that Barcelona have been the more successful side, both domestically and in European competition. Arsenal have always looked on the cusp of making a dramatic impact, but have always been lacking the consistency and killer instinct to make them a truly great team.
However, with another match up against Barcelona, comes another opportunity for the Gunners to make the step up and be recognized as true European beaters.
Arsenal have suffered much disappointment in Europe's top competition over the past decade-plus, and things have not gotten any better in recent seasons. Last year they went out in a surprise loss to French club Monaco, losing 3-1 in the opening leg at home at the Emirates, before winning the away leg 2-0, which ultimately meant they went out on the away goals rule.
Arsene Wenger has said, "We absolutely need to have, as a squad, total focus to have a chance. It is a good opportunity to show we have learned because we had given ourselves a difficult task after the home leg (during last year's exit to Monaco). We need to find the right balance between being audacious, because that is what you will need to be against Barcelona, and being strong defensively as a unit."
But Wenger has said that in preparing his team for a match up against Barcelona, it has not so much been a case of making sure everyone is focused. Against the Spanish giants, everyone is naturally focus 100 percent. Rather, he said, it "is more to create belief and confidence."
The challenge for Arsenal is immense. Barcelona are eight points clear at the top of La Liga, and are unbeaten in 32 matches in all competitions. Messi, Suarez and Neymar have scored n extraordinary 91 goals between them this season, to clearly be the most fearsome strike force in world football.
Today's big Champions League game between Arsenal and Barcelona has a scheduled start time of 2.45 p.m. ET and can be watched online through Fox Soccer live stream by clicking here.
