Jekyll and Hyde play the Nou Camp
Barcelona 1 Arsenal 1
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FEATURES
THE ARSENAL AGM - FULL WRITE UP
FIVE REASONS: ARSENAL COULD WIN IN BARCELONA
CARLTON AND ITV UPSET US AGAIN
JEKYLL AND HYDE PLAY THE NOU CAMP
Blimey. Almost forgot that Arsenal have to do things the hard way.
Tactically slaughtered in the first half, of course, being reduced to ten men was the catalyst in Catalonia to bring out the immense reserves of character to score and grab a valuable point.
This was certainly a game to test those of little faith.
In the first half Arsenal were terrible. They froze. Players were nervous and jittery. Manninger couldn't hold anything - and the panic spread in a normally sound defence.
Arsenal gave Barcelona's array of attacking talent including Luis Enrique, Figo, Dani and Rivaldo the space to create.
The match had hardly begun when Figo pounding down on the right tested Manninger who flapped it out for a corner. Adams blocked Frank De Boer's dangerous header. Dixon was well placed to kick a goalbound effort off the line. And then Bogarde rose virtually unchallenged but headed over.
At the other end, it appeared that Marc Overmars was the only outlet. Having already won a corner, he was scythed down by Frank De Boer, who was booked.
But the relief was only temporary. Cocu again attacked the right side of the penalty area and sent over an innocuous looking cross. Manninger again failed to hold it. Vieira played suicidal juggle ball virtually on his goal line and invited Luis Enrique to take the ball of him and tap it in. An aberration, reminiscent of the mistakes against Manchester United last season.
One down, tactics in shreds, Barca growing in confidence - a spanking was in the offing. It was depressing stuff.
Rivaldo started his party pieces - a combination of sheer skill and speed getting Vieira and Bergkamp booked for 'late' challenges.
Parlour and Dixon were being skinned on the right. The Brazilian took a ball, and a few shimmies later, he delivered a glorious nutmeg.
A few minutes later he performed an outrageous reverse cross - left foot behind right leg.
And then he ran onto a loose ball, releasing a thunderbolt, which Manninger did well to tip over.
Arsenal were lucky to go in only one down at the break.
Half-time in the Arsenal dressing room, must have been busy. In the second half they emerged transformed. And started to impose their game. They tackled pressed and harried.
Overmars, who clearly worried the Barca defence when he ran at them, induced fouls from Reiziger and Cocu.
Dennis Bergkamp - who had been very disappointing (this was a great match where great players stand up and be counted) took a ball on the right and steamed in with a cross cum shot which was wide.
Kanu worked a chance, but his shot was saved well by Hesp.
With around twenty minutes left, it was time for Arsene Wenger to gamble - taking off Parlour and Bergkamp for Suker and Henry. And a little later bringing on Ljungberg for Overmars.
The atmosphere changed when ex-Real player, Suker appeared on the touchline. A cacophony of Catalan boos and whistles welcomed the Croat. It pumped him up. And he went steaming into a challenge with Guardiola (looking like there was a history there).
Guardiola was a key figure. He spread the attacking play brilliantly for Barca. But seemed to niggle the Arsenal players. And it all became too much for Grimandi who elbowed him about three yards from the referee. An idiotic action, deserving a red.
With the atmosphere spicing up, and Arsenal in backs to the wall mode, it seemed to work to the Londoners' advantage.
On 81 Kanu scrapped for a centre in the Barca area. The ball fell to Suker, who used that split second of space and time to hit a low hard left foot shot through a ruck of players.
Hesp got his body to the ball, but like Manninger in the first half, failed to hold it. Kanu, instinctively followed up and although he mishit the rebound, it skewed off gloriously into the left hand corner of Hesp's goal.
Nine minutes left. Would Arsenal hang on in their first competitive match on Spanish soil?
Keown had his name added to the long list of key players with yellows, including Adams, Vieira, Suker and Bergkamp.
Winterburn showed his class by subduing Figo. Adams - pumped up and dangerous, came in with a glorious block tackle to deny Dani a winner.
And Barca ended up frustrated.
Arsene Wenger who admitted it was a very difficult first period, said:"it was a great reaction in the second half and we deserved the 1-1 draw."
On the crowd reaction to Suker, Tony Adams said:"it was scary. But he managed to get in a great shot."
Davor Suker - who could well become a Highbury legend - as much loved as Ian Wright - said it motivated him and in inimitable pigeon English said it was...........
"No problem".
IG