Arsenal-Barcelona & Sparta-Liverpool: The games of the season

Ooh to be a Gooner these days. The last league defeat to Manchester United two months ago seems a very long time and since then Arsenal put on some great performances as they beat Chelsea, outplayed City, scraped out a very important 2-1 victory against Everton, got to the Carling Cup final and are still very much in all the four competitions. There were some familiar arsenalesque stumbles on the way including the horror-show at the St. James' Park but in a grand scheme of things it seems like we really are in the best position since the 2007/08 season.

And then there was this small matter of the Barcelona game.

I have to say I wasn't really frightened about the tie at all, knowing that Barcelona could pull out their best performances whenever they had to. I almost take took for certain that they'd go through and in the worst scenario I wouldn't even take 5-0 as so much of a humiliation. But somehow, I was still really nervous and excited.

And we beat them. And not just that, as a first team in this season we beat them in style.

It wasn't just this, though, what made yesterday's 2-1 win the best football experience for me, like, ever. It was that it came as a cream on the crop, not a one-off like that 2-1 at the Stamford Bridge a couple of years ago. We've performed so well for some time already that it really does seem like there's a turnaround from 'a side who are playing some great football at times and can beat anyone on their day' to a side that's very much turning to be one of the best out there. A mature, confident, brave side with the most technically gifted players in England. There's still a lot of work to do defensively, as well as that we are very lucky not to be struck by injuries, there's the issue of complacency and others. But we're getting there and it's nights like these that make it fantastic to be an Arsenal fan.

There's another massive game coming up as well though. Today in the Europa League, Sparta will face Liverpool in what is probably going to be the biggest game for Czech club football in the last couple of seasons. Even in the underwhelming Czech football environment there's a big sense of anticipation about the game and a lot of questions to be answered. How big a support from the fans are Sparta going to receive after the club hiked up the prices of the tickets in such a ludicrous manner? Are Sparta physically ready after the winter preparation? Are the Czech champions still able to trouble the best in Europe?

The background at Sparta suggests that the team is not really in their prime at the moment. The Prague club are about to play their first competitive game in nearly three months, the last one being a 1-1 draw against CSKA - imagine that Arsenal's last game before the home tie against Barcelona would be the 3-1 win against Partizan in the early December. As well as that, Sparta have just sold their two best players (Kucka to Genoa and Wilfried to Vitesse Arnhem) and the results of their winter preparation games were pretty bad, having won only one game in seven.

Speaking of winter preparation, Sparta are also coming into the game on the back of a recent scandal involving some of the Sparta players who were withdrawn from the national team due to injuries. All of them then featured in their mates' dresses in a game against Zenit, having been captured by the club's photographers on the official website. Hilariously stupid and embarrasing from Sparta, and it just shows what a lack of class is there from the supposedly biggest and most proffesional team in the Czech Republic.

With all this in mind, I think this tie is only Liverpool's to lose. It will also depend on whether, after the long winter break, Sparta will present themselves as a side with fresh legs or a side with a lack of proper match fitness. They'll have to put pressure on Liverpool from the very start and if they can maintain that work ratio throughout the game and take their chances when they come, then who knows.

However, Liverpool's form has improved considerably under Kenny Dalglish and with Europa League as their only chance of winning silverware this season, I expect Liverpool to be fully focused and prepared for this one. Their next game is only the home tie next Thursday and I doubt that Dalglish would not want to take advantage of resting his players before going to Upton Park on Sunday.

"Smash 'em at Anfield": Sparta v LFC - An Interview with Mark Smith

Well, at least there's still someone left to support, you might say, after Arsenal got beaten by having drawn Barcelona in Zürich last week. However, Sparta Praha still don't really look favourable to go through to the later stages of Europa Cup either. I know Liverpool are as solid in their recent performances as Arsenal's defence in past few years but, you know, it's Liverpool. Anyway, a great draw for the fans who will surely appreciate one of EPL's top sides playing at Letná. I talked to Mark Smith of Play Waved On about Sparta's chances and many more.

TMO: Mark, as you’re a Liverpool and Slavia fan, it‘s really not hard to predict who you will going to support throughout this tie, is it? The draw must have been a dream come true for you.

Mark: It was a fantastic draw for me as a Liverpool fan! I was hoping the two sides might get drawn together in the group stages, but was disappointed. So to have Liverpool drawn against Sparta Prague in the knockout stages is a wonderful draw.

Although to be fair, I don’t feel much hatred for Sparta Prague. Its true I follow Slavia since moving to Prague but I have been to watch Sparta few times in Europe and have been impressed with a few of their players.

How seriously is the Europa Cup being taken by Liverpool? Can we expect the strongest line-up to play in the tie?

I believe Liverpool and Roy Hodgson will take this competition very seriously, the majority of fans will also expect the team to go as far as possible. It might not be the glamour of the Champions League but winning matches breeds confidence, whatever competition it is.

The domestic games in between the Sparta Prague matches are Wigan and West Ham – not the toughest fixtures, so I would hope and expect that Roy play Liverpool’s strongest team and makes sure that Sparta are given some respect.

How is the draw perceived among the Liverpool fans? Do they consider Sparta as any real threat for them?

The Liverpool fans would expect to beat Sparta quite easily; having the home leg second is also a big advantage. The game in Prague could be tricky, but whatever the result is in Prague the LFC fans would expect to smash them at Anfield.

European nights at Anfield are very special and can be intimidating for visiting players, so it could depend on how the Sparta players prepare for the game in England, if they turn up with the autograph books they could be in trouble.

I think the fans are very happy with the draw, a long weekend in Prague is always a nice trip, regardless of the football!

Where do you see Sparta in terms of quality, had they been playing in an English division?

I have been impressed with the quality of Sparta, in comparison to the rest of the Czech top flight. But I would put them at the level of mid to lower Championship teams in England, alongside the likes of Sheffied United, Derby County, Reading, Coventry etc.

They might be able to surprise teams in one off cup games (beating Palermo at home) but are also prone to lapses in concentration and inconsistency (drawing with Lausanne Sports 3-3 at home and knocked out of the Czech Cup by Banik Sokolov).

Liverpool haven’t been doing quite as well recently as they have always had in the past. Nobody in Prague would have seriously thought about overcoming Liverpool a couple of years ago. Now it doesn’t feel that impossible, even though it’s hardly likely that Sparta could go through. What sort of weaknesses in the LFC squad will Sparta have to exploit in order to get to the round of 16?

Its been well documented about the recent troubles at Anfield, results have been poor and the lack of investment in the playing squad has been found out. Liverpool is very much going through a transitional period right now.

The weaknesses would be at full back for Liverpool, Konchesky is having a torrid time against every right sided player he comes across, also Glen Johnson is not the most accomplished defender as his strengths are going forward.

The lack of pace is also very evident in the current team; if Sparta can attack Liverpool at pace they can cause a lot trouble. BUT, if Liverpool are given time on the ball in midfield and Torres is given decent service it could be a long 180 minutes for Sparta.

The two key players for Sparta are Juraj Kucka and Bony Wilifred, if Sparta Prague manages to keep hold of these players during the January transfer window then who knows?

Which Sparta player in particular will Liverpool have to be aware of?

As mentioned, I think Kucka and Wilifred are big players for Sparta. Kucka’s energy and ability to dictate play from midfield will play a big part in how Sparta copes. The only problem is that Kucka will be facing the likes of Gerrard, Meireles, Lucas and Joe Cole. A massive step up in class for him and Sparta’s players.

I am also a bit worried that Vaclav Kadlec could catch out our defence, Carragher has never been blessed with pace and Kadlec is very lively and could prove a handful.

Would any Sparta player make the squad at Liverpool (or the other way round? :)?

Which Sparta player could make it in Liverpools squad? Ha, well, that’s a tough one. Kucka and Kadlec would be my two picks; both would make the Liverpool bench at this moment in time. But I would be very excited if Liverpool could sign Kadlec as he is definitely a player who will have a massive future.

I would expect the majority of the Liverpool side to make it into Sparta’s, imagine Torres at Sparta? Ha, crazy thoughts! Although there are a few players who might struggle to make Sparta’s first team!

And finally, what kind of a result do you expect from both ties?

I would expect to Liverpool to win both legs, 1-2 and 3-0. The first leg in Prague will be tough, Sparta have been performing well at home in Europe, beating Palermo and getting a decent point with CSKA Moscow.

Even a 1-1 draw in the first leg would be an OK result for Liverpool, a victory in Prague might leave Liverpool complacent for the Anfield game. Overall, it should be comfortable for Liverpool though.

You can visit Mark's great Play Waved On or follow him on Twitter @play_waved_on.