Andre Iniesta: Arsenal play the “most attractive” football
Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has declared that Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal are the best side in England, despite the fact that Chelsea are the current league leaders, reports the Express.
The 29-year-old’s choice is unsurprising given that he is a product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy and staunch supporter of Spain’s tiki-taka style.
“I think Arsenal still play the best football in England. They play in a style in the way that most emulates what we do at Barcelona – and what is in our opinion the right way to approach the game.
“They may not have spent what other teams have in England – but their football philosophy is the most attractive in England,” he declared.
However, while Barcelona have enjoyed unprecedented success via their intricate passing game across Europe in the last decade, their dominance has come to an end. Meanwhile, Arsenal have not won a piece of silverware for eight years despite their attractive brand of football.
The Catalans have come unstuck in Europe’s pinnacle competition in the past two years due the varying tactics employed by their rivals. Firstly, they narrowly lost to a defensive minded approach against Chelsea before being humiliated by the power and physicality of Bayern Munich last season.
Barca travel to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday to take on Manchester City in the Champions League, with Manuel Pellegrini expected to field a powerful line-up to counteract the Spanish side’s beautiful football, in what will be an intriguing affair with former Barcelona player Yaya Toure set be central to the outcome.
It is hard to argue against Iniesta’s view that The Gunners play the best football, but in the modern game you often need several styles up your sleeve to overcome your opponents and the game seems to be moving back towards the physicality of the 90s.
Barcelona’s refusal to revert to a plan B is now both their biggest weakness and greatest strength, which could hinder them in their pursuit of victory over Manuel Pellegrini’s men.