Arsenal F.C. and Barcelona F.C. Rivalry

The rivalry between Arsenal and Barcelona is a recent growing rivalry between Arsenal and Barcelona.
History
2005-2006
The rivalry between Arsenal and Barcelona has only begun in the last 5 years or so since the two sides met in the champions league final with Arsenal chalenging for their first ever champions league trophy whilst Barcelona where looking for trophy number two. At the time of the 2005-2006 season both sides were argualbly the best two teams in the world with each squad containing two of the best players in the world, Thierry Henry & Ronaldinho respectivley.
The teams both played extrmely well with each side having a glorious moment over the other but things soon got hetic when Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann was sent off for a challenge against Samuel Eto'o. Despite this setback Arsenal kept on the pressure and despite the loss of one man they were still able to score first through the header of Sol Campbell however this would soon become a shadow of things to come as Barcelona Player Samuel Eto'o soon scored after dspite claims from being offside making the score level at 1-1. Theirry Henry however had a chance near the end of the game to win the match but an excellent save kept barceona in the game and with minutes to spare Juliano Belletti scored from a tight angle depite another call for offside which won Barcelona their first champions league title since 1992. Due to Barcelona's win of this competiiton before and the current success of their squad winning another champions league since has often led Arsenal fans to show a huge amount of anger at Barcelona winning this game seeming as it would have been Arsenal's first piece of european history and due to the goals ending Arsenal's record of ten clean sheets in the competition with the final game it would have kept them from going the entire tournament without conceding a goal.
2007-Present
Since the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final the rivalry between Arsenal and Barcelona has ceased to exsist apart from Arsenal fans hate towards Barcelona for being the team to end their champion's league dream. The rivalry has seemed to increase over time since the 2007 season where both squads relied on youth and home grown talent such as Messi, Xavi & Iniesta from Barcelona whilst Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott & Aaron Ramsey from Arsenal. Since both teams adopted this form of attacking football the teams began to adopt a similar way of play which has been described as the most attractive football in the world.
Since the rebuliding of both teams they have since been competeing head to head in the last two years of the UEFA Champions League for the 2009-2010 & 2010-2011 season's. Both have been thrilling encounters since both teams play incredible attacking football over two legs.
The first game from the 2009-2010 season began with Barcelona looking like the dominent team with them gaining a 2-0 lead thanks to two goals from ibrahimovic however in the second half Arsenal seemed to gain the upper hand thanks to the reapperance of super sub Theo Walcott who came on and scored to make the game 2-1 however in the dieing seconds of the game Fabregas scored a last minute equaliser from the penalty spot to finish the game 2-2.
The second leg started well for Arsenal who had Barcelona on the ropes with the pace of theo walcott who paced up half of the pitch to set up Nicklas Bentner to give Arsenal the advantage but then Messi the greatest player in the world turned on the magic and scored 4 goals against arsenal the make Barcelona the eventual winners 6-3.
The 2010-2011 season Arsenal once again met Barcelona in the Champions League and even though it looked to be the same od story with Barcelona going 1-0 up thanks to a David Villa goal Arsenal once again turned on the gears in the second half and made it one better this time than last season due to goals from Robin Van Persie from a acute angle and a fine finish from Andrei Arshavin to gift Arsenal's first victory over Barcelona for the first time and the only english team to have beaten Barcelona since their reamergance as best team in the world.
The second leg started with controversity as Robin Van Persie was sent off due to for a strange reason as he kicked the ball away only a second after the whistle was blown which was stupidity from the refs side. With this disadvantage Arsenal were on the ropes with only ten men against the attacking flair of Barcelona and with Messi once again turning on the fear factor scoring a fantastic goal flicking the ball over the keeper and volleying into the net. But Arsenal were soon fighting back with an own goal from Barcelona after a corner by Arshavin was taken in but Barcelona still proved to be the better side with scoring another two goals from Xavi and another from Messi from the spot, barcelona eventually won the game 3-1 making a close 4-3 close aggerate victory over Arsenal.
Other Factors
Due to the fact that both clubs have now focused on youth since the 2007 season there has been a increase of hate between both clubs from a youth level.
Fabregas is one of these reasons as since Barcelona disregarded him as a youngster believeing he would not become the player he is today, Arsenal took him in with welcome arms and raised him through there youth ranks and trained him to become the player he is today and since his reamergeance Barcelona are calling for his return increasing the hatred between both clubs as Barcelona fans believe Arsenal as stole him as a youngster and he believes he deserves to be at barcelona due to his genes as he is spanish and has been a Barcelona fan since a youngster while Arsenal are angry on them trying to take him back as they did not want him until he had made a name for himself at asrenal so fans believing he deserves to stay.
Another controversial decison was made a few following years later with the player Ignasi Miquel as he is seen in the same limelight and situation fabregas was when he was 16 and the fact that Arsenal got him from their academy despite Barcelona wanting him to stay at their academy so they did not make the same mistake as fabregas years prior.

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