Fawlt-less Manuel a tower of strength for Arsenal

Cesc Fabregas scored a late penalty to complete Arsenal's excellent second-half recovery against current La Liga champions Barcelona. Los Cules dominated the early stages almost entirely but failed to turn their superiority into goals, thanks to a combination of profligate finishing and a string of exceptional saves from Arsenal 'keeper Manuel Almunia. The Arsenal Number One saved kept out efforts from Busquets, Messi, Ibrahimovic and Xavi as Barcelona's sublime passing, movement and approach play ensured the home side enjoyed an infinitesimal amount of possession in the opening twenty minutes. The Catalan giants finally claimed a thoroughly-deserved lead almost immediately after the interval, serial Champions League under-performer Zlatan Ibrahimovic making up for his earlier miss with an inch-perfect lob over an on-rushing Almunia, the Spaniard's sole mistake throughout the entire game. The Swedish international then added a second, rifling a powerful finish into the roof of the net, a goal that appeared to have ended both this game and the tie overall. However Wenger's decision to introduce Theo Walcott in the 66th minute proved to be a masterstroke, as within a matter of minutes the winger took advantage of Barcelona's defensive weakness, comprehensively beating Maxwell for pace before firing low under Victor Valdes. Following his excellent save from Nicklas Bendtner's goal-bound header, Walcott's goal would have been extremely disappoint for Valdes, who ought to have done better, but there was little he could do to prevent Arsenal's dramatic equaliser. Bendtner cleverly headed on a cross into the path of Fabregas, who anticipated the challenge of defender Carles Puyol and gained what could be an invaluable penalty for his side. The decision to award the penalty was dubious, given that not only was Fabregas moving away from goal, and therefore not denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity, but the only slight contact between the two players appeared to have been facilitated by Fabregas' legs tangling with those of the Barcelona captain. However the red card afforded to Puyol rubbed salt in the wounds of Guardiola's team, who will be without their two-first choice defenders with ex-Manchester United centre-back Gerard Pique having been booked earlier on. Fabregas dispatched the penalty with aplomb to ensure that, far from being the altogether easy affair most observers predicted it to be prior to Walcott's goal, the second-leg sees Arsenal head to the Camp Nou hoping to spring an upset and secure a famous victory. However the Gunners will be forced to cope without the talismanic Fabregas, who picked up an injury in the course of the Arsenal equaliser. Whilst most likely outcome remains an eventual Barcelona triumph, Arsenal's fortitude, determination and refusal to surrender to a far superior side will live long in the memory of all those lucky enough to have witnessed such an extraordinary game, whilst Pep Guardiola's side must be given the credit they deserve for putting on one of the greatest first-half performances ever witnessed in the history of the game.