Arsenal are set to clash with Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals, but Mika Richards admits they could end up hurting each other if the tactics are wrong.
Arsenal remain favorites to win the Champions League (Image: Warren Little, Getty Images)
Micah Richards is confident Arsenal will “absolutely beat” Barcelona if their tactics are right, but they could be similarly covered up if they approach the game incorrectly.
The Gunners kept their Champions League hopes alive this week and could have formed part of an unprecedented quadruple. They defeated Bayer Leverkusen and will face Sporting Lisbon in the last eight, where they will be favorites to win.
Arsenal’s biggest test will be in the semi-finals, when they will face either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid. The Catalans were favorites to win this tie and showed off their attacking prowess by defeating Newcastle 7-2 at the Camp Nou.
Barcelona took risks defensively, which led them to equalize twice with Newcastle, and they will be unable to resist from now on. Richards admitted the Premier League side would be in for a riot if they got things wrong at the back.
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“The rest is football,” he said. “If you’re thinking about Arsenal’s chances of getting into the Champions League final, you work on it all day and then you think the Premier League has a little bit of leeway. I would look at the League Cup thinking of it as a trophy, but it’s not the biggest trophy. If they lost it, I wouldn’t be losing sleep worrying about it because they’re now in the perfect position to win two huge trophies.”
“Arsenal will beat Barcelona. If Barcelona plays that high line, Arsenal will definitely beat them. If Barcelona gets five yards back, Barcelona will definitely be able to beat Arsenal.”
Barcelona beat Newcastle and showed their best attack
“Martinelli will definitely, 100 per cent, want that matchup. Even Gokeres, he’s not the quickest, but he’s a strong runner and all his previous goals for Sporting were things he used to do. So if they play on a high line against Arsenal, Arsenal will absolutely beat them.”
Barcelona defeated Arsenal in their only Champions League appearance in 2006 at the Stade de France. Since then, the Catalans have defeated the Gunners by knockout three times. However, Mikel Arteta’s side remain the favorites to win Europe this season.
Arsena have won nine of their 10 games in Europe this season, but could face a desperate Barcelona side who have improved on their semi-final defeat last year. They first need to get past Tottenham and Atletico, who have already beaten their La Liga rivals this season.
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