The Champions League draw has been kind to Arsenal for the most part this season. But they have landed by far the most difficult quarter-final tie in what will be one for the purists.

AZ Alkmaar, Standard Liege and Olympiakos were contours on a golf course green, Porto a small countryside mound but Barcelona is Arsene Wenger’s Mount Everest.  

 

The Gunners are a poor man’s Barcelona. That’s not a criticism, it’s a compliment, because the Catalans are the best team in Europe at possession football and it’s a philosophy Wenger’s teams have always aspired to. But at the moment the current Arsenal side have only really taught weaker sides in the Premier League and in Europe a lesson on how to keep the ball moving – Barca are fully established at doing it on the big occasion against top opponents and combine entertainment with winning football.

However, the Frenchman will undoubtedly relish pitting his wits against Pep Guardiola’s outfit and will enjoy the battle for passing and movement supremacy. It will certainly be very pleasing on the eye but the Gunners will have to be at their best if they are to match up to the reigning European champions.

And stopping Lionel Messi will be the biggest test. So many players are overhyped but the little Argentine is shaping up to be a true legend in the game. He is the closet player yet to Diego Maradona and George Best and it is not an overstatement to say the ball appears to be tied to his foot with a piece of string when he leaves shell-shocked opponents in his wake .

It is a joy to watch the emergence of what could be one of the all-time greats in the game and hopefully he will light up the World Cup in South Africa.

But in the meantime it will be intriguing to see how he fares and how Arsenal cope against him in what is sure to be an enthralling last eight tie.