Arsenal 'Can Match Barcelona For Pure Football Skill' - Nicklas Bendtner

Dane admits that he enjoys watching the way the Spanish side play.
Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner believes that his side can match Barcelona stride-for-stride when the two teams meet in a Champions League double header.

The first leg of the two-legged clash between the two clubs will be played at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, with the return leg scheduled to take place at Camp Nou on March 8.

Arsenal's fluid passing style was putting into the shade by Barcelona in their 6-3 aggregate loss to the Spanish champions in last year's Champions League.

But the tall Dane believes that Arsenal can match the Spanish team hailed by many as the greatest in world football this time around.

"I would like to think that we are one of the few teams that can match Barcelona for pure football skill," Bendtner said in The Mirror.

"I like to believe that we have great players as well, and that we have a similar style to Barcelona.

"We like to pass the ball like them - and for that reason we have a chance. I certainly think we have at least two or three players who would get into the Barcelona side.

"This time, I promise it will be a different game than last season. We have shown character to come back from behind many times and also to bounce back from disappointments."