Wednesday 16 March 2016 22:13, UK
Arsenal have no fresh injury concerns as they look to overturn a 2-0 deficit in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Barcelona on Wednesday.
Lionel Messi scored both goals at the Emirates to put Barca in control of the tie as they look to defend the trophy they won last year.
The Gunners are looking to avoid a sixth consecutive defeat in the last-16 stage, but manager Arsene Wenger knows they face an uphill task when they travel to the Nou Camp against a Barcelona side unbeaten in 37 games.
"We want to make the impossible, possible," said Wenger. "We know we play against a very strong side, and it's important that we go there and focus and show a very good response.
"We have shown that we can respond always. I think this team has a great spirit, a very strong attitude. They play at the moment with the idea that they cannot afford any (bad) result, but we can deal with that. We have a good opportunity to show on Wednesday night that we are up for it."
While Arsenal were knocked out of the FA Cup by Watford on Sunday, La Liga leaders Barca warmed up for the clash with a 6-0 thrashing of Getafe.
Team news
The Gunners will still be without several first-team players including Aaron Ramsey and Petr Cech, but they will welcome back Laurent Koscielny at the centre of defence as he has recovered from a calf problem.
Gerard Pique is suspended for Barcelona after collecting a late booking at the Emirates, but Luis Suarez should return after not featuring against Getafe.
Opta stats
Arsenal have never beaten Barcelona at the Nou Camp (D1 L2) and have conceded seven goals in their last two Champions League trips to Catalonia.
Only Bayern Munich have beaten Barcelona by at least two clear goals at the Nou Camp in the Champions League in the last 12 seasons, with a 3-0 victory in May 2013.
Barcelona are one of two clubs still unbeaten in the Champions League this season, the other being Real Madrid. They have won 16 of their 20 Champions League games since last season (D2 L2), scoring in all 20 games.
Arsenal and Barcelona's eight previous Champions League encounters have produced 29 goals, an average of 3.6 per game.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last three away games in the knockout stages of the Champions League (W2 D1).
Messi has scored eight goals in five Champions League games against Arsenal, his favourite opponent in the competition alongside AC Milan.
Alexis Sanchez has been directly involved in 58 per cent of Arsenal's Champions League goals this season, scoring three times and delivering four assists.
Charlie Nicholas' prediction
Wenger is stuck between a rock and a hard place in terms of what strategy he goes for in the second leg. This has happened before when Arsenal have had virtually impossible second legs and you'd still think they'd be able to have a go and get something, but this isn't the Arsenal team of previous seasons. It is more like one of the bottom teams in the Premier League taking on one of the top sides.
I would play Danny Welbeck up front and Theo Walcott on the right in the very slim hope that they could expose the lack of pace that Barca have at the back, then leave Sanchez out, as he's been a non-event since his return from injury - except for the goal against Tottenham - and then have Mesut Ozil on the left and flood the midfield.
If Luis Enrique plays Neymar, Messi and Suarez then I can see all of them scoring and I'd chop your hand off for a 2-0 defeat. I fear the worst because this team is exposed and desperate. I'd love nothing more than being proved wrong but I just can't see anything other than a heavy defeat.
Charlie predicts: 3-0 and Neymar, Saurez and Messi all to score (40/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Arsenal are up against odds of 20/1 to overturn their first-leg deficit and 10/1 just to win on the night, with Barcelona 1/4 to cruise through.
The Spanish champions are currently 13/8 favourites to win the competition followed by Bayern Munich (100/30) and Real Madrid (5/1), while the Gunners a hefty 500/1.
Lionel Messi heads the first goalscorer betting at 5/2 closely followed by Luis Suarez at 11/4, with the visitors' main threats, Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck, four times the price.
Arsenal legend and Soccer Saturday pundit Charlie Nicholas is fearing the worse, backing Barca to win 3-0 with Messi, Suarez and Neymar all to find the net at 40/1 in his Sky Bet tips.
