A French treat

The French are well known for the gastronomical extravaganzas they serve up. Tonight however they will lay out a mouth-watering treat of a different kind, as Paris gets set to host Arsenal against Barcelona at the Champions League final.

This is perhaps a dream final - to have two well established powerhouses replete with international stars, and whose sole mandates are to play attacking, entertaining football. Although at face value it does seem so for tonight's match, on sounder consideration, one realizes that both teams also bring with them water tight defenses, with Arsenal now famously holding the record for ten straight shut outs in this tournament.

On paper, and going by achievements this season, Barcelona seems slight favorites for this encounter. On TV yesterday most English sports journalists were found saying that their hearts wanted Arsenal to win, but their minds chided them otherwise.

For us to decide, lets get down to analyzing the teams piecemeal.

In goal we have two solid, unglamorous goalkeepers, who are also capable of the occasional ludicrous gaffe. Lehman demonstrated that in the free kick goal conceded against Wigan, and Valdez had done so at least twice during the league season.

I would rate the Arsenal defense a bit better than Barcelona’s simply because there are no old legs there but for Sol Campbell. Campbell despite being over thirty is always a monstrous, menacing, subduing presence in his half of the field and an intimidating physical embodiment in the opponent’s penalty area. If Cole plays at left back it remains to be seen how well he copes up with playing a big game after being sidelined for much of this season with injury. I am not too sure how Old Balletti and Marquez are, but I get the feeling that I have been seeing Puyol on TV forever; so all in all not the youngest and most fleet footed of defencive setups. Barcelona have looked tight and composed at the back in their recent games, but I would put it down to good strategy and teamwork rather than individual brilliance.

The Barcelona midfield seems more creative than Arsenal's with Deco, Iniesta and Ronaldinho pulling strings, and very frequently white rabbits from their hats. The Arsenal midfield is more of a quick paced, well-drilled unit. Wenger has denied that Ronaldinho will be given special attention, but I probably think either Gilberto or Fabregas will shadow him all over the pitch.

Going upfront, Henry’s solo brilliance is not completely matched by Eto'o. Henry is more creative, pacier and better at free kicks. Eto'o though is probably a more complete striker as he can head well too. Eto'o is luckier though to have a more potent strike partner in Larsson. Somehow Robin van Persie’s contributions have dried up as the season has progressed, leaving Henry to shoulder most of the goal-scoring burden.

To sum it all up, I think Arsenal will pip Barcelona to the title. The Arsenal defense should prevent conceding too many, and Henry is sure to give Marquez and Puyol hell. To stick my neck out further, I see them winning 2-1, with Henry scoring twice, and Eto'o getting the consolatory goal for Barca. While Barca might already be partially satiated by winning the Primeira Liga, Arsenal seem hungrier and would be less pressured to win. Henry would love to leave an emphatic and emotional mark on this, possibly his last game for Arsenal. Ironically he might shift to the team they face tonight! This season has been just that - full of such quirky occurences. Sample another - it's been an English team against a Spanish team in the finals of both the Champions league and the UEFA cup!

For most football fans on the subcontinent, the champions league final is the culmination of the football season, the one last time you can brew up a hot cup of coffee and wait for the clock to strike midnight! Stay up and get ready to be treated.