There were times during last night’s game when, if I had been watching Barcelona play another Champions League side, I’d have thought, this other lot must have had an easy run to get to the last eight, as they’re nowhere near good enough for this level. As the cliché goes, if it had been a boxing match, the referee would have stopped it to avoid the victim getting any further unnecessary punishment.

I saw Barcelona dismantle a Stuttgart side featuring Jens Lehmann and Alex Hleb on the box a couple of weeks ago. The first leg had been 1-1 in Germany with the home side giving a much better account of themselves than Arsene Wenger’s side did last night. The return game saw Barca make the tie fairly safe at 2-0, before going on to finish with four goals. However, what impressed me after the result was a foregone conclusion was how hard the Catalan side worked when they were not in possession. We saw more of the same on their visit to London. The significance of this was that it was an away leg. Despite their profligacy in front of goal, their performance was so dominant, that – even had Fabregas, Arshavin and Gallas been available – the return is, I am afraid, a formality. Without those players…

Of course, Gooners will point to the way Theo Walcott terrorized the left side of Barca’s defence, and if there was ever a time for the great Gunners’ hope to step up to the plate, next Tuesday evening is it. Left back Maxwell played so high up the park that Theo didn’t have to do much thinking, much decision making. There was space to run into, all he had to do was outpace his marker to get to it. He, and maybe Eboue, who might be the best option to join Bendtner and Walcott in attack next week, could be the best picks to give any hope in the return leg. Fans might gain some hope from the suspension of Puyol and Pique. Forget that. Gabriel Milito is no mug and Yaya Toure played at centre back in the final last season and snuffed out Manchester United’s attack. There is little weakness in reserve there.

The contrast between the two sides when they did not have the ball was reflected in the possession stats. Arsenal hardly put more than two passes together for the first hour of the game. They proved inadequate at closing down their opponents, and on the rare occasions they managed to get the ball, they invariably gave it away with sloppy passing. To single out individuals who underperformed might make this a longer piece than it needs to be, but Diaby in particular was woeful in possession, whilst Samir Nasri was as much use as the proverbial monkey with a chocolate spanner when the opposition had the ball. Dani Alves must have thought he was dreaming.

A lot of the Arsenal players were shown up by their opponents as simply nowhere near the same level, both individually and collectively. It was a salient lessen for a manager who believes in his players. It was a bubble that should have been burst in the way it was by Manchester United in the semi-final last season. But the result gives some respectability and can allow Wenger to continue believing that lack of experience can triumph over the logic and football history. Dream on.

The 2-2 draw was littered with casualties. Arshavin will be out for at least a fortnight. William Gallas is definitely out for the remainder of the campaign (and possibly the World Cup), although his lack of recovery from his calf problem might actually mean he can’t find a taker for his talents and stay at the club. Fabregas, one assumes, will hope that he is able to return to fitness in time for the World Cup. Although Wenger took a chance playing him, it did appear that the injury he suffered was a completely new one and unrelated to his knee problem. He showed true courage to play the last few minutes of the game, but probably made his injury worse in doing so. Definitely a man who thinks of the team more than himself, although he did not have the best of games, possibly as a result of the injury he was carrying when he began the match.

The interesting decision ahead for Arsene Wenger is whether he picks Sol Campbell for the Wolves game or the second leg. I suspect the decision to replace Gallas with Denilson and move Song back indicates that Sol will be on Premier League duty this weekend, with lack of pace a potential liability at this level. Having said that, I think it might be worth bringing an old head into the fray for the Nou Camp because the one thing the man brings to the backline is loud and authoritative communication. There seemed little of that last night, and Barca profited. Their lack of ability to beat Almunia – who had a mixed game (some brilliant saves, but so poor for the two goals) – has kept the tie alive.

In a way, the simplicity of Arsenal’s task next week - win the game – means that there is not a lot to think about. The pressure is off really. They can just go hell for leather and attempt to put the current champions on the back foot. Certainly no point in holding back as that would be suicidal. Football can throw up surprises, but I am not optimistic we will see one in the second leg. Being given a football lesson on your own turf by Manchester United hurts because of the history between the two clubs. Barcelona won every trophy going last season and aren’t a lesser outfit this time around. They are the best team in world football.

They play in the style Arsene Wenger aspires to, but he should note how hard they work and how organized they are. This very highly paid group of players will put in a shift. Critically, Pep Guardiola is a brilliant tactician. Arsene is a dreamer. He has attempted to imitate last night’s opponents, but the resources he has to work with means that his imitation is a pale one. Convincing against poorer Premier League opposition, but exposed at top level. That is why it was a miracle that Arsenal squeezed a draw out of the first leg. They will need another one to win the game next Tuesday. But 4,000 Gooners will travel in the hope of witnessing one in the flesh. Wenger’s team need to work as hard as they did at Goodison Park last August and be as clinical in front of goal… and do without Fabregas, Arshavin, Gallas and Van Persie. Start praying.

The new issue of The Gooner, featuring an exclusive interview with Cesc Fabregas, went on sale at last night’s game and can be bought online here