I'm fine thank you and you?

Ryo Miyaichi returned to Arsenal training today. He is still recovering from an ankle knock collected in a reserve team clash with Wigan. Tomorrow’s Champions League game in Dortmund is expected to be too soon but a debut could come in the trip to Blackburn.

Arsenal could do with some good news.  An uncharacteristically chaotic summer of traumatic departures and hectic arrivals has left a team short of confidence.  Arsenal, under Arsene Wenger, have been able to lay justifiable claim to being the prettiest team in English football.  During their invincible pomp in the early years of this century they were incomparable.  As the trophies began to prove elusive the aesthetics remained – for a time Arsenal were still the fairest of them all.  But things started to turn ugly.  They still play the quick and beautiful game but it has been a warts and all existence of late.

The Cesc Fabregas transfer was a messy break up, one side refusing to set the other free, to the detriment of all. Arsenal circa 2011 wear the forlorn look of the broken hearted. They need help, more satisfying and lasting than the quick fix gratification offered by the transfer window retail therapy.

When Ryo does finally make his first first team appearance he will undoubtedly lift spirits. Cesc Fabregas was for so long the heart of the team – his absence will take a long time to forget. Miyaichi will help Arsenal believe in love again – he is that good.

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Casillas

Lahm

Ashley Cole

David Luiz

Vidic

Pepe 

Alonso

Modric

Alexis Sanchez

Cristiano Ronaldo

Gareth Bale

Smith has gone part of the way down the ‘Fill in the gaps from a World XI when you remove the Barcelona players’ and also a few steps down the path of the ‘How do you tactically defeat Barca?’

As such his selection is full of good players but unlikely to emerge victorious in this fictional battle.

If plugging the holes in the World XI I would argue that David Luiz, Pepe, Luka Modric. Aleix Sanchez and Gareth Bale are debatable choices.  Sergio Ramos, Maicon, Thaigo Silva, Lucio, Mesut Ozil, Cesc Fabregas, Jack Wilshire, Wesley Sneijder, Samuel Eto’o, Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney amongst others might merit inclusion.

The more taxing selection emerges when trying to select a team to beat Barca, rather than occupy the mythical list of the World’s best footballers.

The first problem is finding a system that can contain and exploit what many are labelling an unbeatable team.  One option in this fantastic endeavour is to out-Barca Barcelona.  Tiki-taki the masters of said art to death.  A daunting prospect.

Smith’s defence can stay almost untouched but the slightly more rugged qualities of Vidic could be jettisoned in favour of a centre half more comfortable with the ball at his feet such as Lucio.  In midfield, the 360 degree Modric, for his ball retention and ability to rotate and pivot away from tackles would stay but the defensive aggression of Pepe, would appear anathema to a team of aesthetes.  Pepe could then drop back to the centre of defence taking the place that Smith had earmarked for David Luiz.  Moving Alonso to the Busquets role in front of the defence would vacate space for another player with the principle duty of keeping the ball.  Until Arsenal met Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League in February 2011 that role would arguably have gone to Cesc Fabregas.  But, regardless of issues of fitness, he appears to have been usurped by his club mate Jack Wilshire as the pre-eminent pass and move midfielder in the Premier League.

At the outer reaches of the team if the template is Catalan, would lie a willing runner a la Pedro and a finisher in the mould of David Villa.  To call a footballer of Villa’s multiple talents a purely a finisher is to do him a massive dishonour he of course does much more in terms of movement, invention and sacrifice.  Pedro’s primary function is territorial – he makes and takes the space created by the force of Dani Alves’ runs from fullback and the confusion created whenever Lionel Messi floats away to those places opponents fear to follow.

the middle prong in our Barca mirror XI would be Cristiano Ronaldo.  He is unlucky to be sharing an epoch with Messi.  It is his fate to shine brightly but never bright enough to overshadow his Argentinian nemesis.  On Ronaldo’s right Carlos Tevez would supply all the running of Pedro, with more in terms of aggression and game grabbing desire.  Wayne Rooney is no David Villa, the two are quintessentially different in style and temperament.  As Barca washed United away at Wembley Rooney was resolute.  He at last appears close to recapturing the form that looked destined to take him to the pantheon of the great players of his age.

Casillas
Lahm
Cole
Lucio
Pepe
Alonso
Modric
Wilshire
Tevez
Cristiano Ronaldo
Rooney

It is still possible to make strong cases on behalf of Sergio Ramos, Sami Khedira, Wesley Sneijder, Alexis Sanchez and Samuel Eto’o to be included in this team.

But whether they would fare any better against Barcelona than Smith’s side is obviously questionable.  If the objective is to press high up the pitch, move and pass the ball rapidly, and attack with numbers flowing in myriad patterns with the threat of magic in the air then I think this team would fare better than Smith’s selection.  Would it out Barca, Barca?  I don’t think so.

For that another approach is required.