Cruyff Dismisses Arsenal

Barcelona icon Johan Cruyff has criticised the level of skill in the English league and said Barca have no reason to fear the Gooners in their Champions League tie. Speaking in the run up to the game he said "Arsenal’s game against Wolves showed once again that their forwards are incredibly fast and run their socks off, but also showed why English football is so attractive. The teams trade blows and everyone gives the ball away a huge amount of the time."

"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. Not only do Barcelona string passes together, they do it so close to the opposition area and a long way from their own."

"You’re always going to lose the odd ball but if Theo Walcott, Arshavin, Van Persie and the rest are a long way from Victor Valdes’s goal, you can play the offside trap and also run down the fuel levels on those turbo engines that they have by making them chase the ball."

Arsenal are big underdogs in the tie with bookmakers pricing them at 3/1 for the home leg and 7/1 for the trip to the Nou Camp. Even the most optimistic Arsenal fans know they'll have to produce an epic performance to dispatch Pep Guardiola's side.