Barcelona took the lead twice in their first pre-season game against Arsenal last night but ended on the wrong side of a 5-3 result.
Speaking after the game, Barcelona’s manager stated that he found the Gunners’ approach to the game to be very intense and rough for a pre-season friendly.
“The intensity that Arsenal put was not normal. Too many fouls for a friendly. I understand that everyone wants to win, but I told Arteta that it looked like a Champions League match. The intensity that they put was too high.”
Now, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has hit back at the Spanish tactician’s words, aptly stating that professional football cannot be separated from its competitiveness.
As quoted by Arsenal’s official website, he said: “It got really competitive for a friendly match – after the first tackle, after the first goal. Obviously, in front of 70,000 fans, it helps to create an atmosphere.
“They are elite players, and all want to win, and at the end, it got a bit too much at times for a friendly to be fair. But I think we showed all the people that came to watch the game that it was really good.”
“At the end of the day, football belongs to the players. We’re playing in front of 70-80,000 people, and when it comes down to it, as soon as the game starts, they’ll rebel against the coaches and do what they want as soon as there’s the first foul, as soon as there’s the first game, they’ll start getting intense and they’ll start playing.”
Statistically, Arsenal committed 15 fouls in the first half when compared to Barcelona’s nine, putting Xavi’s statements into perspective.
Xavi’s side appeared submissive at times, repeatedly falling prey to the Gunners’ high pressure.
But given that the Premier League side had more match practice coming into the game, their physical conditioning and intensity were bound to be higher.
Barcelona will be disappointed by the result that unfolded last night. However, it is important to note that while it was their first game of the pre-season, Arsenal had already played three friendlies prior to the game at SoFi Stadium.
The Blaugranas next face Real Madrid on Saturday night at the AT&T Stadium and will look to record their first win of the campaign.
