Arsenal vs Barcelona preview: Alexis Sanchez comes up against former club in Champions League
A look ahead to the Champions League Round of 16 first leg at the Emirates
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Alexis Sanchez: The Chilean has been outstanding for Arsenal since leaving the Camp Nou in July 2014, scoring 35 goals for the Gunners, and it is the first time he will face his former club, Barcelona. The 27-year-old has netted three times in the Champions League this season, despite only recently returning from a hamstring injury he suffered in November.
Best stat…
4: Barcelona have won four of their seven meetings with Arsenal, which have all come in the Champions League. The Catalans have only lost once to the Gunners - a 2-1 defeat when they last met at the Emirates in 2011.
Remember when…
Lionel Messi scored four goals against Arsenal in the 2009/10 Champions League campaign, as Barcelona progressed to the semi-finals.
Player to watch…
Luis Suarez: The former Liverpool striker returns to England for the second time since joining Barcelona on a rich run of form - having scored 15 goals in nine games in all competitions. With five goals in the Champions League to date, the Uruguayan has been the most prolific of his Barcelona team-mates. Suarez knows Arsenal well, from his time with Liverpool, and will look to capitalise on that in the first leg.
Past three-meetings…
Barcelona 3 (Messi 2, Xavi) Arsenal 1 (Busquets OG), Champions League, March 2011
Arsenal 2 (van Persie, Arshavin) Barcelona 1 (Villa), Champions League, February 2011
Barcelona 4 (Messi 4) Arsenal 1 (Bendtner), Champions League, April 2010
Form guide…
Arsenal: LWDWWD
Barcelona: WWDWWW
Vital information…
KICK-OFF TIME: 7.45pm
TV: Live on BT Sport Europe, Tuesday 7pm
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