A Champions League guide to Barcelona for Arsenal fans

After the 2-1 scoreline between Arsenal and Barcelona at The Emirates Stadium in the first leg of the last 16 of the Champions League, the Gunners now head to the Nou Camp next month with a great deal of confidence. Arsene Wenger’s men will be travelling to the Catalan region of Spain feeling that they can progress to the next round and knock out the La Liga champions. Similarly Arsenal fans will be sharing that belief when they travel to Spain’s second city and to enjoy some Champions League action at the Nou Camp. If you didn’t visit the Nou Camp last year and haven’t travelled to Barcelona for European football before, here is a guide to the Spanish city so that you can know everything you need to on your European trip.

The first thing you’ll want to do is get your hands on those coveted tickets for the match at the Nou Camp. The second leg takes place in Barcelona on Tuesday 8th March and you can check ticket availability by clicking here. The stadium is located in the west of Barcelona, approximately 5 km from the city centre. You can take the metro to Maria Cristina or Les Corts Stations on Line 3, or to Collblanc or Badal Stations on Line 5. If you go down the route of car hire and head into Barcelona from the north then you’ll want to search for car hire options, alongside flights, by clicking here.

There are a number of flight options available to you, although as the Champions League fixture approaches the demand for air travel to Barcelona is sure to increase. Flights are available from a number of airports in the UK, including London Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted and Luton direct to Barcelona International Airport. You can decide to stay in Barcelona for the night and get a return flight back the next day so that you can explore the Spanish city as well as watch the football.

Buy Barcelona v Arsenal Champions League tickets here!

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If you plan to stay in Barcelona for the night then you’ll need to book hotel accommodation alongside flights. The Football FanCast Travel Page is ideal for this as you can bring up all the hotels within a five mile radius of the Nou Camp. The available hotels are also listed in order of price so that your Spanish football trip doesn’t have to cost you the earth. A handy map illustrates just where you’ll be staying, too, with the Madanis hotel and Princesa Sofia Gran Hotel both on the doorstep of the Nou Camp.

So you can book football tickets, flights, hotel and accommodation for the Barcelona v Arsenal Champions League fixture with a couple of clicks of your mouse. This will ensure your trip to Spain is as simple as possible, then you just have to hope that the Gunners do the business in the Nou Camp.

Keita the key, says Guardiola

Pep Guardiola singled out Seydou Keita as the man who made the difference for a depleted Barcelona in their 3-0 win over Mallorca.Goals from Lionel Messi, David Villa and Pedro secured the La Liga victory for the visitors to the Iberostar Stadium on Saturday.But Mali international Keita – who has been forced to contend with a place on the bench for much of the season – was the man to draw special praise from Barca coach Guardiola.”Today we have won the game thanks to (Seydou) Keita,” Guardiola said.”He is a strong midfielder, and we need him a lot. I’m happy for him.” The defending La Liga champions were without key men Carlos Puyol, Victor Valdes, Dani Alves and Xavi for the away match. But Guardiola acknowledged that injuries and suspensions were a fact of life.”I would prefer that they were all available and nobody got hurt, but these things happen,” he said.”If they didn’t we would just have 11 players and our accounts would be healthier.”

Premier League preview: Bolton v Aston Villa

Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier is certain to make changes his side visits Bolton in the English Premier League on Saturday.Houllier has copped a barrage of criticism for making eight changes to the side that was soundly thrashed 3-0 by Manchester City in the FA Cup on Wednesday.Just four points separate Owen Coyle’s side in seventh place from the Villans’ spot in 12th prior to the clash at Reebok Stadium.Houllier intimated his side had little chance of beating the cashed-up City in the Cup clash, and the Frenchman defended his right to leave the likes of Stewart Downing, Ashley Young and Marc Albrighton out of the starting XI.”I had to do it and I would do it again. I understand where they are coming from but I don’t think we could have beaten Manchester City,” Houllier said.On-loan Bolton striker Daniel Sturridge will attempt to score for his fifth straight match in a Wanderers top after making the temporary move from Chelsea in January, having already become just the sixth player to score in his first four games for a Premier League club when he struck the equaliser against Newcastle on Saturday.Villa will be hoping midfielder Young can maintain his streak against Bolton, having netted in his past five appearances against the club.Should Jussi Jaaskelainen line up in goal for Bolton, it will be his 499th appearance for the club. The veteran has relished the competition second-choice goalkeeper Adam Bogdan is now providing, with the young Hungarian keeping consecutive clean sheets in FA Cup ties.”I’d like to play every game, but the manager makes the team choices. At the end of the day it’s about the results and we got two great ones in the (FA) Cup,” the Finn said.

Capello warns Carroll over drinking

England manager Fabio Capello has warned Liverpool striker Andy Carroll to watch his drinking.The Italian boss said he was wary of any potential mishaps Carroll, an England squad member, might have while socialising, and the impact that would have on the former Newcastle striker’s perception in the public as a national representative.

“He needs to be careful at every moment because when you play with the England national team you are the focus of the fans, the newspapers, the photographers, the people that live around him,” Capello said ahead of his side’s friendly with Ghana on Tuesday.

The England boss said he told Carroll he could continue to drink in social situations, but to significantly decrease his intake or risk his national team spot.

“Not only Andy likes to drink beer. He needs to improve, to drink less. I spoke with him, in private. He’s young – his behaviour is important,” Capello said.

Carroll, 22, was involved in several incidents at former club Newcastle and was arrested on two occasions, in September 2008 and December 2009. The latter stemmed from an assault charge, with Carroll granted bail under the conditions that he live with then-captain Kevin Nolan until his case was heard.

Carroll made his international debut in November against France, and is in line to start for Capello’s side when they face Ghana at Wembley.

Premier League: Arsenal 0 Blackburn 0

Arsenal fans booed their team off the field after being held to a frustrating 0-0 draw with Blackburn at the Emirates on Saturday.The Gunners missed a series of chances and even when Rovers had Steven N’Zonzi harshly sent off in the 75th minute they could not find a way past a well-organised Blackburn defence.

The draw leaves Arsenal seven points behind Premier League leaders Manchester United, who won 4-2 at West Ham earlier in the day.

Even the return of captain Cesc Fabregas from injury as a second-half substitute could not inspire Arsenal to victory.

They at least started quickly and certainly had chances to take the lead in the first half with Jack Wilshere missing a wonderful opportunity when he inexplicably side-footed wide following a one-two with Samir Nasri in the 30th minute.

Livewire winger Theo Walcott, back from injury, also went close with an early effort that was smothered by goalkeeper Paul Robinson but the longer the game went without a goal the more Rovers came into it.

They almost took the lead when goalkeeper Manuel Almunia embarrassingly allowed a tame Marin Olsson shot to slip through his grasp – and the Spaniard was mighty relieved to see the ball roll narrowly wide.

The Arsenal keeper also made a terrible hash of dealing with a long Robinson clearance, allowing N’Zonzi a header that bobbled past the post. And perhaps if N’Zonzi had not collided with his own team-mate Christopher Samba as he jumped, Almunia’s error could have been more costly.

In the second half the home side became increasingly frustrated as Blackburn’s defence kept them at bay. But when N’Zonzi was sent off for a two-footed challenge on Laurent Koscielny, Arsenal gained new impetus.

Substitute Marouane Chamakh should have put them ahead in the 80th minute when Robin van Persie’s clever back-heel and Wilshere?s cut-back gave him a wonderful chance from 10 yards – but his effort was blocked.

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Then in the final minute, Nicklas Bendtner’s header from a corner struck Michel Salgado on the line as Arsenal’s frustration was complete.

The result leaves Manchester United firmly in control in the title race, now seven points clear although Arsenal do have a game in hand.

Premier League preview: Blackpool v Stoke City

Relegation-threatened Blackpool need points desperately and there is no better time to get them than in their clash with Stoke City on Saturday.Ian Holloway’s men are hovering above the English Premier League relegation zone in 17th by means of goal difference ahead of Wigan, but finish the season with trips to Manchester United and Tottenham and also host Europe-bound Bolton after their clash at Bloomfield Road on the weekend.

The tough run-in to the end of the season means it is three points on Saturday or bust for Holloway and his plucky Blackpool outfit, which rode their momentum through the English Premier League playoffs last term.

The form guide does not make pleasant reading for Seasiders fans, as their side has secured just eight points from a possible 51 since the New Year.

Stoke, meanwhile, are not short of confidence with an FA Cup final to look forward to and are coming off a 3-0 dismantling of Wolves on Tuesday.

Tony Pulis will almost certainly be missing Matthew Etherington for Saturday’s clash after the winger limped from the field with a hamstring injury in their win over Wolves. He is in doubt for their Wembley date with Manchester City.

Other omissions for Stoke include strike duo Ricardo Fuller and Mamady Sidibe (both Achilles), while Danny Higginbotham is a long-term absentee with an ACL injury.

Australia international David Carney continues his spell on the sidelines for Blackpool with a shoulder injury, while scarcely used defender Chris Basham will miss as he continues his recovery from a broken leg.

Blackpool won the reverse fixture 1-0 at the Britannia Stadium in December, with frontman DJ Campbell scoring the winner shortly after half-time.

Holloway bracing for player exodus

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway has admitted he is powerless to stop star players leaving if the club is relegated this season.A host of Blackpool players have been linked with moves away from Bloomfield Road and Holloway knows he could lose the likes of forwards Charlie Adam and Gary Taylor-Fletcher if the Seasiders fail to stay in the Premier League.

Blackpool have just four games left to drag themselves out of the relegation zone, starting with Saturday’s clash with Stoke City.

Holloway said: “I’ve had a look at who is out of contract, who has an option and who definitely won’t be here. Unless we stay up or improve what we’ve offered them, we may lose some of them.”

“I’m chilled about it but I’ve had a look around and done some research. If we get extra cash for staying up, it may change the dynamics.”

Stoke have been buoyed by reaching their first ever FA Cup Final and all their players will be pushing for a Wembley starting place.

But Holloway pointed to December’s 1-0 win at the Britannia Stadium as just one of many reasons to be optimistic ahead of Saturday’s game.

“We’ve already beaten Stoke away, beaten Tottenham here and drawn with Bolton away and we’ve only lost 3-2 to Manchester United at home,” Holloway said.

“United had to overcome a two-goal deficit here and unfortunately that is something they were able to do.”

“I am not scared of any of them and I am looking forward to them. Do I think we can get enough points to stay up? Of course I do.”

“How lucky am I? I go to work and do something I love to do. I get to play ‘Football Manager’ for real instead of at home on my computer talking to my mates. I do it for real so that is absolutely fantastic.”

Blackpool are definitely without defenders Chris Basham (broken leg) and David Carney (shoulder) for the Stoke clash.

Why are hard working strikers praised but clinical and “lazy strikers” criticised?

The Premier League is littered with examples of strikers that work hard – but offer little in terms of goals. The classic examples are Emile Heskey, Dirk Kuyt and Kevin Davies, it’s probably fair to say that all of those players have shown glimpses of class and ability at times that has led to the suggestion they are half-decent strikers. But none of them have proved to be able to score more than 14 goals in a single Premier League season. Yet, they have all played in the Premier League for years and are highly respected.

Now call me old fashioned but I believe a striker should hit the back of the net on a regular basis or they are simply not doing their job. Two players that have done that on a regular basis throughout their respected careers are Darren Bent and Dimitar Berbatov, but both these players have their critics and they are often considered lazy. However, surely the goals they score tell their own story and should be more than enough to answer any critics?

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Whenever Heskey, Kuyt or Davies is criticised we hear about the amount of ground they cover or the overall work they do for the team. It was this sort of thinking that resulted in Emile Heskey going to the World Cup with England. Isn’t it time we started to praise the strikers that score the goals and do the job and criticise the ones that don’t?

Managers must see something in training that I don’t – because I would never pick a forward with a high work rate but poor goal return and leave my prolific marksman on the bench. It makes no sense to me when football is all about scoring goals to win games. But maybe I am missing the point and the value of the likes of Kuyt, Heskey and Davies.

Join the conversation on Twitter and tell me the value of Kuyt, Heskey and Davies

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Serie A preview: Udinese hunting Euro berth

Udinese will be looking to seal a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League when they host champions AC Milan in the Serie A on Sunday.Francesco Guidolin’s team can guarantee their fourth spot with a point against Milan, who are unbeaten in seven league outings, at the Stadio Friuli on the last day of the season.

Udinese would book their spot in the Champions League for the first time since 2005/06 if they can achieve the result and Guidolin said they would need to be clinical in the attacking third.

“AC Milan are not just any team but the Serie A champion,” Guidolin said.

“We need one more point but it will be very difficult. We need to be focused and ready for the task that awaits us.”

“We have to make the most of our chances in order to obtain the result that would take us to paradise.”

Lazio, who are two points adrift in fifth, will need to collect three points at Lecce if they are to have any chance of stealing Udinese’s spot.

Juventus are also relying on other results if they are to sneak a European spot for next season.

They host third-placed Napoli and need to win, as well as hoping Roma lose at home to the relegated Sampdoria, to clinch sixth spot.

Second-placed Inter Milan head into their meeting with Catania with the runners-up position already confirmed.

Coach Leonardo will want to go into the Coppa Italia final against Palermo on May 29 with a full strength squad, meaning he will not be taking any risks, while Catania can finish no higher than 10th.

Palermo manager Delio Rossi may do likewise when his team welcomes Chievo with a European spot out of their grasp.

Struggling Bologna, who have survived the drop, will be looking for their first win since March 13 when the relegated Bari visit.

Cagliari will be out to break a four-game losing run when they host Parma, who are unbeaten in their last five outings.

Elsewhere, Genoa and Cesena will do battle and the relegated Brescia will host Fiorentina.

MLS wrap: Kansas City, Chicago collect three points

A 10-man Sporting Kansas City recorded a 4-1 away win at FC Dallas in Sunday’s Major League Soccer action.Sporting headed into the match at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, while Dallas were flying high in second position in the Western Conference.

A routine home win was expected but Graham Zusi’s 27th minute opener gave Sporting hope.

Brek Shea quickly equalised for Dallas to level proceedings heading into half-time before a crazy 11-minute period after the break.

French defender Aurelien Collin restored the lead for Sporting, before Zusi scored his second, and to cap off a fast-paced start to the second half, the visitors had Montenegrin Milos Stojcev sent off for a second red card.

But despite having an extra man, Dallas could not make the most of the numerical advantage and Sporting put the result beyond doubt when Luke Sassano scored with 12 minutes remaining.

In the day’s other match, Colombian Cristian Nazarith netted an injury time winner as the Chicago Fire beat the Columbus Crew 1-0.

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