FC Barcelona News: 16 February 2011; Barcelona Arrive In London, Arsenal Prepared For Tough Game

Welcome to London! | FCBarcelona
The team is in London. Their plane left Barcelona on schedule at 16.00 and landed in Luton at seven in the evening, local time. All 18 of the fit first team players travelled, along with Thiago. Although the sky was cloudy, the temperature of 8 degrees is surprisingly mild for this time of year in the English capital.

All 18 plus Thiago heading for London | FCBarcelona
In an unusual move, although the game is in London, Pep Guardiola decided that the pre-game training session would take place at home, with the first quarter of an hour open to the media. So on Tuesday the first team trained as usual on pitch number one at the Ciutat Esportiva.

Guardiola: "We both want the ball and suffer without it" | FCBarcelona
Guardiola admitted the Gunners were not his ideal opponents for the last 16: "I like watching Arsenal, but I’d rather not be playing against them. We are two teams who want the ball and we both suffer without it. We want possession for as long as possible in order to make as many attacking situations as we can".

Arsene Wenger Insists Arsenal Will Not Change Style Of Play Against Barcelona | Goal
"If you want us to play long balls and long throw-ins tomorrow it would be worse than playing our own game. Of course we want to nullify their strengths. Usually we have 60 per cent of the ball and our opponents 40%, or 70% and 30%. Tomorrow it might be a little bit the other way. When we defend we have to defend with calmness and determination."

Iniesta: "We are up against a very good team" | FCBarcelona
Iniseta missed last year’s game against the London club, but he is clearly looking forward to this season’s matchup: "it should be a very attractive game and we hope to put in a good performance. They are a team you have to take notice of and we will have be very focused and above all take our chances and at all times try and play our own style of football".

Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger Confirms Theo Walcott Will Start Against Barcelona | Goal
The Arsenal boss said: "He’s now a regular player in our team. Nobody wonders if he will play tomorrow or not, you know that I will start him. That has played a big part in his mind as well." Walcott has cemented himself in the Arsenal starting line-up, with Wenger impressed with the development his player has made.

Johan Cruyff Warns Barcelona Of Robin Van Persie Threat | Goal
"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.

Barcelona Are The Best In The World But Arsenal Have Improved Greatly - Cesc Fabregas’ Father | Goal
The midfield playmaker’s father has conceded Barcelona were without question the best team in the world, though has warned Arsenal are in much better shape this season. Speaking to The Mirror, he said: "The games will let us know. I think it will be tough, although Arsenal have improved greatly and have injured players back in action.

Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger Hits Back At 'Fishing' Jibe From Former Barcelona President Joan Laporta | Goal
Arsene Wenger insists that there is nothing wrong with the way Arsenal went about signing skipper Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona in 2003, after the Catalan club's former president Joan Laporta accused English clubs of "fishing" for talent in their camp.

Luis Fabiano to leave Sevilla | ESPN
Fabiano, 30, is viewed as one of the top strikers around and has won the UEFA Cup, Super Cup and Copa del Rey with Sevilla since joining them from FC Porto in 2005. However, transfer speculation has unsettled the striker and, with his contract expiring in 2013, he is keen to move on to the next chapter of his career.

Bayern Munich After Barcelona Wing-Back Adriano - Report | Goal
The Bavarians have been in the market for a new left-back for quite a while now and were previously linked with players such as Benfica's Fabio Coentrao and Bordeaux star Benoit Tremoulinas. However, they have now apparently turned their attention to the 26-year-old Adriano instead.

Almeria Keeper Diego Alves Flattered By Valencia Interest | Goal
The Brazilian shot-stopper was the subject of a €3 million bid from Los Che during the winter market, but their advances were rejected and the 25-year-old remained in Andalucia. The Champions League competitors are expected to return with an improved bid in the summer, but speaking to Superdeporte, Alves said that while he is pleased to be linked with the club, he must worry only about Almeria for the time being.

Pepe To Sign New 2015 Real Madrid Deal - Report | Goal
The pressure Jose Mourinho has applied on Real Madrid over a contract extension for defender Pepe has paid off according to AS, and the Portuguese international will sign a new deal in the near future.

Del Moral sidelined for three weeks | LFP
The Jaén-born player had to abandon Tuesday's training session with pain in his adductor muscle, a problem he has been carrying for over a week and which kept him out of the game against Málaga.

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