Well that was a disappointment...

After all the hype, the hoping and praying that we would finally be able to step it up on the big stage it just didn't happen. You could say we didn't take our chances and that on a different day we could have got the result we wanted; but enough about Crewe's loss to Macclesfield though, let's talk about Arsenal.

Well, that was... never mind. The first thing, that was never a red card for Van Persie. Never. Forget inexplicable, it's indefensible. The simple fact of the matter is that we were winning the tie before Van Persie got sent off for the stupidest reason ever; and we know that it's pretty much impossible for a team to shut out Barcelona at the Nou Camp with ten men, especially with no Song or Vermaelen.

Bad news for Wojcech Szczesny as he injured his finger, possibly ruling himself out for the rest of the season. Only Arsenal could lose their top two keepers for the run-in for the rest of the season. Szczesny went off after about twenty minutes, with Almunia coming on to replace him. In fairness, it was the perfect response from Almunia who seems to step it up in the big games. Barcelona came again and again but Almunia did his best to keep the scoreline decent; and probably succeeded. What happens in the logr-un who knows, Wenger will probably want experience on the bench, YoungGuns talks about the possibilities here. Djourou and Koscielny were rock-solid in defence, even with the latter giving away a penalty I have to say they put in a real shift and played well. Clichy and Sagna were also decent, Clichy doing his best to contain Messi and Alves on the over-lap while Sagna did well to mark a quiet David Villa. Sagna has also been talking to the press here.

Jack Wilshere was, as always, incredible. Is there ever a match where he doesn't look like he is willing to die for the club to get the win? Great dedication as always, looked to drive on with the ball on the rare occasions where we had possession. Certainly learning a lot, let's hope he can get over these type of results quickly and move on. Abou Diaby was decent I suppose, we didn't really have enough of the ball to bring his running from deep into play and his physical presence didn't really do that much to help as the Barca midfield just seemed a bit to fast for him. A real crossroads for him, we know he has ability but he needs to start delivering consistently if he wants to be more than just a bit-part player. Then there's Cesc Fabregas. Not fully fit, as shown as he struggled to make an impact, gave away possession with a ridiculous backheel to gift Barcelona's first goal and was eventually hauled off for Nicklas Bendtner as we looked to score an away goal to take us through. Poor, let's hope he is fit for the weekend. As for Bendtner, once again we couldn't really get the ball to him, had a chance to put us in the driving seat again, but hard to score a chance like that with what was probably his first touch of the ball.

In attack, Van Persie was equally unfit, couldn't make an impact as the ball never really got up to him and he eventually got sent off, the first yellow deserved as his frustration brought out the petulent side in him. The second yellow, I won't go into that one for fear of using crude language in my blog. That ref though, what a tosser. Nasri was decent, looked to drive on the counter like Wilshere, won the corner that got our goal and was as I said decent. Rosicky was picked because for his willing ness to track back, which he did. He generally stuck with Adriano and kept him quiet but, a few early passes aside, didn't really offer much in attack. Came off for Arshavin with about 20 minutes left, Arshavin couldn't really do much as once again, we didn't really have the ball.

After the match, scathing criticism about the referee from all corners, the boss had a go and the players joined in on Twitter. Rightly so, one of the biggest games that will happen in world football this season, and they get an idiot to ref it. One who has refereed twenty European games involving Spanish teams, none of which they have ever lost. We know that Barca are divers, cheats, liars, hypocrites and all-round classless thugs, but why Abidal was not sent off I don't understand. Don't worry though, UEFA are sorting the problem out. The rest of the bosses thoughts are here.

Also, a decent piece by Jamie Redknapp on the aftermath of that result, a rather belated Loanees round up of last weekend (my fault) and the reserves are in action today, no Thomas Vermaelen in sight though.

Anways, that was sickening. Laters peoples.