Champions League; THIS Barcelona Game

In Swahili, we say “Hayawi hayawi huwa”: What is meant to be, ought to be and is destined to occur, does come to pass. Last season’s 6-3 aggregate loss to Barcelona at the stage that Arsenal today seeks to reach at the expense of last year’s Champions league losing finalists for obvious reasons was kinder on my being.

Paris: Last Time Out for Arsenal, This time to Wembley?

Not so the 2006 Paris final. Believe you me; following the 2-1 loss, I came down with what must be a psychotropic case of the flu. It took me three days to regain my health, though the scar left was life long: so close, yet so far.

This 16th of February 2011 though, the feeling is more akin to that before the infamous round of 16 triumphs at the San Siro some seasons back. Allow me to throw one at the spuds at this juncture: well done at the job done at Milan yesterday night, though it is only kind of me to remind you that your efforts only added to what we started those many seasons back.

I believe with Cesc’s goal from somewhere close to the middle of the pack, and Theo Walcott’s nonsense-ing of the Rossaneri defense- before crossing for Adebayor to score the second at the dead; Arsenal triggered the inevitable: a fate similar to the one currently facing it’s owner Brelusconi in court.

On the flipside, in a match that much like today’s had been taunted as a David- Goliath affair, David triumphed! The excuse then was that Arsene Wenger’s kiddies were no match for the experienced Gattusos, Seedorfs and Nestas. The tale this time round is that Arsenal’s sexy ain’t no match for Barcelona’s goodies.

Arsene Wenger thinks it’s time to win the Champions league, Barcelona standing in the way to Wembley, or not. It is often said that being champions of Europe demands just that. After all, the Champions league is a tournament that crowns the king of kings so to say.

 With an hour to the game, I wish that I was among the 60,000 + at the Emirates as my guts tell me that tonight may be the night that victory will be achieved through harmony. It’s just a gut feeling you might argue, but football at times is akin to politics: perception and opinion are king!

Enjoy the game.

Post game review coming up under the following title: Champions League; THAT Barcelona Game