Spanish publication Sport claim that Arsenal scout Stewart Houston was at the Camp Nou on Saturday night when Barcelona hosted fellow title contenders Atletico Madrid in a top of the table clash.
But Gooners do not need to get their hopes up as Houston was not there to scout a player. Instead, he was making notes on Arsenal’s Champions League last-16 opponents Barcelona.
According to Sport, the 66-year-old Houston is a “specialist in monitoring and reporting on rivals”.
Arsenal face Barcelona at the Emirates on the 23rd of February while the Champions League winners host Arsenal on 16th March.
It will be a smart move for Arsenal to carefully analyse the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents and Arsenal must do all their homework before they take on last season’s treble winners. Messi, Neymar and Suarez have been in menacing form this season and last night’s game was no different as Barcelona edged Atletico 2-1 with Messi and Suarez scoring the goals.
Arsenal have failed to progress to the quarter finals in the last 5 seasons of the UEFA Champions League and it is highly unlikely that they will be able to avoid a 6th. Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 28 matches and it will take a colossal effort from the Gunners to knock out their 2006 Champions League final opponents.
Arsenal can, however, take some heart from their performance against Bayern Munich earlier this season when they defeated a high-flying Bayern side 2-0 at the Emirates and if they are to progress to the quarter-finals a similar performance is needed.