We all thought that Barcelona are the best attacking team in Europe.

But it was not until Wednesday night that this was 100% confirmed. Sometimes you just have to hold your hands and say “too good”, and last night was one of those times. The first hour was simply breathtaking in its beauty and simplicity, and only due to Almunia’s first half heroics and Ibrahimovic’s shocking finishing (both of which changed as soon as the second half started) did we stay in touch. Yet despite the obvious gulf in overall class between the two teams, we are somehow still in the tie. Just.

Realistically, without Cesc, William, and possibly Arshavin, we have a 5% chance of progression to the semis now. But this slim chance has come at an almighty cost to our tilt at the Premiership title, which still has some life in it. Victory on Saturday and a draw between Utd and Chavski and we will be in the hunt again, even though the games are running out.

But the harsh reality is we will now certainly enter the remaining Premiership fixtures without our captain, Gallas, Asharvin for a while no doubt and with Van Persie still a few weeks away. We are once again down to the bones when it matters most.

Wolves' visit gives Arsene Wenger another big dilemma. With the second leg just six days away, will he rest Nasri, Song and Vermaelen for Saturday and run the risk of the title finally slipping away, which it will certainly do if we do not win Saturday? He rested Nas and Andrey last Saturday and ultimately we paid the price for not having our most creative players on the park from the start. Time to be realistic. We have a much better chance of winning the title than we do the Champions League now, so we should ensure we are as full strength as we can be come 3pm Saturday. Tuesday night is a case of “what will be, will be”. I’m convinced that Arsene will again sacrifice the starting eleven on Saturday with an eye on the Nou Camp.

And if that happens, our season could be over for another year come 9.40pm Tuesday evening. Here’s hoping that Mick Mac will field another “Old Trafford” style team on Saturday… we could even offer to pay the £25,000 FA fine for them!!!