The Arseblog Interview

Since its beginning in 2002, Arseblog has grown to become the biggest one team football blog on the internet and a reference for any football blogger. It's humour and insight make it a great daily read, not just for Arsenal fans but for any fan of football and good writing. In the light of tomorrow's return game with the Gunners I was delighted that Arseblogger agreed to answer my questions. Here's what he said:

FCBNEWS: First, congratulations for the win against Wolves, you left it pretty late! The Premiership still looks complicated for you, do you think Arsenal can still win something this season, and which of the two titles do you think is more possible for you to win?

ARSEBLOG: We've been leaving it late quite often this season. Unfortunately the late goal we conceded against Birmingham has made the Premier League very difficult for us now, so stepping back and looking at it logically the Champions League is probably the best chance of a trophy. It's a knock-out cup competition and anything can happen. I'm not blind to the fact it's very difficult but I'd be surprised if Chelsea dropped enough points to let us back in it.

FCBNEWS: You have been very unlucky with injuries and now Fabregas, Arshavin and Gallas are all out, what XI do you think Wenger will start with at Camp Nou?

ARSEBLOG: I don't know 100% to be honest. It all depends on whether or not he sees Sol Campbell capable of playing two matches in quick succession, and one against such top class opposition. If he doesn't then he'll play Song at centre-half, maybe Nasri will come back into midfield and Rosicky might move forward. It's hard to know right now though.

FCBNEWS: It surprised a few people when Sol Campbell moved back to Arsenal from Notts County at the age of 35, how has he done since rejoining the Gunners?

ARSEBLOG: He's been brilliant. Not too many fans were convinced by the signing but although his pace has gone, as you would expect, he's played very well. He's strong, reads the game well and adds a physical presence that perhaps we've lacked at times.

FCBNEWS: What do you see as Arsenal's strengths and weaknesses? How can Arsenal surprise Barça at Camp Nou?

ARSEBLOG: Strengths - the way we keep the ball, pass and move, and the amount of chances we create. Obviously not too much of this was evident in the first leg. The other major strength is that this is a team that will not give up, as Barcelona found out, and Wolves did at the weekend. We've scored something like 18 goals in the last 10 minutes of league matches this season so it shows there's a desire, as well as a physical ability to keep going.

I don't know that we need to surprise Barcelona but we need to do things better, especially when we don't have the ball. We were too slow to close Barcelona down and when you give a team with players as good as Xavi, Ibrahimovic, Messi et al then you'll get punished. Work harder, pass the ball better and if and when we do get chances we have to take them.

FCBNEWS: What were your impressions of the first leg at the Emirates?

ARSEBLOG: I've never seen Arsenal taken apart quite so thoroughly as I did in the first hour. I have my own thoughts about how Arsenal played but I don't want to take anything away from Barcelona either. You lot were quite brilliant - as I said on my blog if it had been any other team I'd have said it was a joy to watch. That said, I don't think Barcelona ever really have to work that hard in the Spanish league and I think there was a touch of you running out of steam as well as thinking the game was done and dusted. There's a lesson there, which I'm sure Guardiola will drill into his players, the game is not over after an hour. It was a remarkable game really, full of incident and I hope the second leg is just as good.

FCBNEWS: There has been no end of speculation about Cesc Fabregas moving back to Barça. How important is he to Arsenal, and do you think he will stay at the club?

ARSEBLOG: I don't think any Arsenal fan is under any illusions about the fact Cesc will go back at some stage, but I don't think the time is right. I think he'll stay. He is important, of course, any player of that quality is. What is a bit of a pain is the way the Spanish press work with regard to spinning stories about him leaving Arsenal and to be honest, with the Presidential election at Barcelona coming up, I'm not looking forward to the summer. For his part though, Cesc is always quick to quash these stories, we know how the Spanish press works, and although it's an unwelcome distraction it's not much more than that.

FCBNEWS: Finally, give us a score prediction for Tuesday's game.

ARSEBLOG: Sorry, don't do predictions. The only thing I'll say is that I predict it'll be a great game and it's wide open really.

I'd like to thank Arseblogger for his time. You can read more of his views on the game tomorrow at Arseblog - (LINK) it's always good to hear the views of the opposition so I advise you to have a look.