Published: 17 December, 2015
by RICHARD OSLEY

LOL, pmsl, lol, ha, you’ve got Barcelona, lolz, pmsl some more, ha, you’re out already.

This was the typically inane reaction from supporters of Arsenal’s rival teams on Monday when the Gunners were drawn to play the masters of the Champions League, Barcelona. You see, Arsenal fans are supposed to be sat here weeping at the prospect of being thrashed by the best team in the tournament when they meet next year.

What a mess we would all be in if that was the reality. Are these naive souls really saying that they would not like to see their team play Barcelona?

Take Spurs. They have not played Barcelona in more than 30 years because of their basic inability to qualify for Europe’s important competition. Do we suppose their fans are really muttering to themselves up at White Hart Lane: ‘I’m really, really glad not to be playing Barcelona – really – I’ve enjoyed our boys playing Metalurg Qarabag Rovers so much over all these years that I wouldn’t want to see Messi and Neymar play here’. Same, too, Manchester United. 

It’s infinitely better to be drawn against Barcelona than plodding about with Europe’s stiffs in the embarrassment that is the Europa League, a competition no serious team can even take any pride in winning. Man United are playing FC Midtjylland, possibly spelt right, and yet we are told Arsenal have it bad by playing Barcelona.

If we needed to, we could make the same case with Liverpool, a team which now celebrates a home draw with West Bromwich Albion by bowing in front of their fans. Keep up the good work, guys.

There is, of course, Manchester City and Chelsea, our financially doped friends who are still alive and kicking in the Champions League. Maybe they feel well-placed to cackle at Arsenal’s apparent misfortune at drawing Barca while they face far easier assignments. Maybe, but it’s hard to hear the squeaking from Chelsea, London’s sixth club, right now. The din of laughter all around is too loud.

And as for City, when their neuvo fans say, “ha Arsenal got Barcelona, they are as good as out”, what they are really saying is “Arsenal got Barcelona, please let them beat them so we don’t have to face Messi ourselves”.

Win or likely lose, with this tie Europe’s two great passing sides meet. It sort of doesn’t matter if Arsenal lose by three or four. It’s still better than playing with the drop-outs on Thursday nights. It really is.