Champion League Match Preview : Arsenal vs Villareal

Barcelona had won 1-0 over AC last night, and in order to prevent the scenario of having an all Spanish affair in this year Champion League final will rest on the shoulders of Gunners.

Tonight the 1st leg will be played at Highbury, Arsenal seem to have a better chance as especially that the visitors have practically scraped through to come this far (they beat Rangers and Inter on away goal successively).

The visitors will be without 2 key defenders, Gonzalo Rodriguez and Juan Manuel Pena who were injured. A good news for Gunners, as to stop Thierry Henry you will have to have your best defenders on the field. Fortunately though the Gunners will miss their suspended Jose Reyes but the return Ljungberg does not make the situation any easier.

Diego Forlan will lead the attack for the visitors, with Riguelme acting as a ammo delivery from mid field.

But they are definitely a shade slower in their built up when compared to the the astute Henry, van Persie and Adebayor leading the Gunners' attacks. Equally fast are their team of midfielders of Hleb, Ljungberg, Pires and the very versatile Fabregas.

Both teams have been weakened by the absence of their seasoned defenders, what with Lauren, Campbell and Ashley Cole missing from the Gunners' rear ranks. That would leave the striking prowess as the decisive factor in this very crucial match.

However, the Gunners are definitely way ahead of their visitors and with this match to be played at home we can expect an easy win for the home side!