Former Premier League winner Joleon Lescott (Picture: Getty)
Joleon Lescott believes Arsenal will still prove too much for Barcelona should the two sides meet in the Champions League semi-finals.
Barcelona joined Arsenal in the quarter-finals after a rampant attacking display saw them thrash Newcastle United 7-2 in their second leg at Camp Nou.
Hansi Flick’s side scored three goals in a blistering 16-minute spell at the start of the second half, eventually knocking out their Premier League opposition 8-3 on aggregate.
The Catalan giants will now play the winner of Atletico Madrid versus Tottenham in the quarter-finals, while Arsenal will take on Sporting Lisbon for a spot on the final four.
But former Manchester City defender Lescott believes that Arsenal would be a considerable ‘problem’ for Barca should both sides meet in the semi-finals in what would be a repeat of the 2006 final.
Asked to rate Barcelona’s chances in this year’s competition, Lescott told TNT Sports: ‘I wouldn’t say so just because of the way they defend.
‘I think a more compact team like Arsenal, and with the offensive talent that they have, I think will cause Barca a lot of problems because I still think there are frailties in their defensive line.
Your football fix
Metro’s Head of Sport James Goldman delivers punchy analysis, transfer talk and his take on the week’s biggest stories direct to your inbox every week.
Sign up here, it’s an open goal.
Barcelona cruised past Newcastle with an 8-3 aggregate win (Picture: Getty)
‘But yes, when they play like this, especially as long as it’s two legs, and how exciting they are and how dominant they are at home, they’ve got a chance.’
Newcastle, meanwhile, were made to pay for a sloppy start to the second half, with Shay Given calling into question the gung-ho approach from ddie Howe’s side.
‘I think in the cold light of day, when Eddie looks back, I think just frustrating,’ Given said.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal could await Barca in the semis (Picture: Getty)
Champions League quarter-final draw
Paris Saint-Germain vs Galatasaray or Liverpool
Real Madrid vs Atalanta or Bayern Munich
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid or Tottenham
Sporting CP vs Arsenal
‘I think the fourth goal came in the 51st minute but we said at half-time, Newcastle don’t have to go out and press them all ovr the pitch and get picked off.
‘I think they had to be more settled in the second half and be more defensive and frustrate them and quiet this crowd down.
‘Don’t jump out of your positions too much, but the fourth goal comes along and it’s game over at that point, and then it’s just getting picked off for fun because Barcelona really stepped it up in the second half.
‘We are on the pitch level and the speed to move the ball, the movement, the rotations all over the pitch – they are a top team going forward.’
Reflecting after the game, Howe side: ‘Tough way to go out. Really strange to sum that up. First half we were excellent, albeit both halves we didn’t defend properly in key areas. In the second half we weren’t as good.
‘Psychologically, it was a tough one for the lads. They had that penalty right before half-time and scored quite quickly after half-time and psychologically, we didn’t recover.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Arrow
MORE: Sandro Tonali injury update after Newcastle defeat to Barcelona in Champions League
Arrow
MORE: Darren Bent claims Arsenal star looked ‘desperate’ against Bayer Leverkusen
Arrow
MORE: Arsenal warned ‘perfect’ Sporting have one huge advantage in Champions League clash
Comments
Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google
Add as preferred source
Football Newsletter – In The Mixer
Punchy analysis, transfer talk and more from Metro’s football experts, sent straight to your inbox every week.