I hear Folks a-sayin' those pesky Gunners been runnin' amock all over Europe, shootin' up a storm; they say nobody's safe. Seems to me like its time for Sheriff Puyol, Deputy Ronaldinho and Marshall Eto'o to round up their posse and corral them sharp-shooters - teach 'em a lesson once and for all. (cue: background music as the Barca Boys mount up and ride off to battle.....)


High Noon soon and the duel is looming on the horizon. The biggest Club Trophy in Europe is at stake at the UEFA Champions League Final in Paris - and its tomorrow!


No time for mind games - just a few clear and sober observations:


THE FACTS: BARCELONA


FC Barcelona are regarded by most as the best attacking team in Europe and has scored 22 goals so far in the Champions League.


Barca have just won their second successive Spanish League title and are considered by most pundits as clear favourites to win the European Cup.


The Players, coach and fans have respect for Arsenal and do not think that there is a favourite in a final but Barca's attractive and dominating style with, among others, the "World Footballer of the Year" in the line up make them the "Brazil" of Club football.


THE FACTS: ARSENAL


Arsenal are showing good form as present but have not been very convincing through most of the season. This culminated in a disappointing 4th place - the worse result in over a decade.


Their season was highlighted by leapfrogging arch-rival Tottenham Hotspurs to get into the qualification round of next years Champions League.


However, their emerging, and doubtless talented young squad have surprised many by reaching their first Champions League final ever.


Arsenal fans may not like to see their team as underdogs, though they must agree, on paper at least, its a fair situation. But I am wondering why so many football experts are seeding Barca as such strong favourites? May it is is just empathy for their attractive playing style.


THE ROAD TO PARIS


From a Barca supporters standpoint, the 2005/2006 season has been absolutely fabulous so far. Barcelona have simply played incredibly fluid football and it is a real joy to watch them play. This type of football is the reason why football fans want to pay money for a ticket to see "Joga Bonito" live.

They scored 22 goals in the Champions league so far and could have scored plenty of more when you reflect on games like the quarterfinal match against Benfica in Lisbon - a close tie that should have already been closed 1-5 at Benfica.
They eleminated the richest and most hated English football club, Chelski while making Mouthrinho eat his own words.


Click here to see 'Goodbye Mou' on Metacafe


Another great achievement was the elimination of AC Milan. Barca looked comfortable over both legs and even if Shevchenko´s goal had been given, "Barca looked like they would have scored if needed" (Arsene Wenger).

Perhaps Barca got the run of the luck on this occassion but it was the first time in years and anyway, Shevchenko´s goal would not have decided the encounter.


The assassination of Chelsea, Benfica and then Milan was a joy in itself, made all the sweeter by the method of execution – pure Champions' Football!
Barca were declared favourites before the CL started and for once, the bookies were spot-on!


The expectations among the Barca supporters are tremendous, the confidence strong and it will be a catastrophic disappointment if the Cup does not go to Barcelona.

But all the favourite talk does not guarantee victory and being a favourite is worth nothing when, after 90 minutes, you don't finish the job you started.
To quote an old Abba chestnut: The winner takes it all!


WHAT THE 'EXPERTS SAY'


If you take any notice of "International Experts" Barca have already played in two finals this year against Chelsea and Milan. The Barca team was up for it twice and won them both. The pressure was extremely high and from an emotional point of view, the Chelsea tie was the toughest obstacle to overcome, given the extra pressure resulting from last year´s lost encounter, the disappointment and pain experienced. For Barca there was a great deal at stake.

Losing again would have been devasting, but the team was composed enough to convert all this into a mature "champions-like" display and advanced to the quarter final in style. I am confindent they can do it again.


Click here to see Giuly's goal against Milan on Metacafe


WHY WE'RE READY


I believe there couldn't be a better time for Barca to win the second Champions League trophy. FC Barcelona is at the pinacle of its achievement and a win tomorrow would confirm the success of the current project to turn Barca into the 'Best Football Club in the World'.
It would provide a tremendous lift for Catalunya and the people who are living in this beautiful region.


Of course, a Champions League victory over Arsenal would mean more money and potential higher revenues from sponsorship deals but for the supporters it is the invaluable image that counts. Barca is much more than a Club!


THE 'DREAM TEAM'


The current team would write history with a win. The world would talk about "the best Barca team ever" by winning the Championship back-to-back and adding the Champions league titles as well. At the very least it would be be a match for the "Dream Team" of the early 90´s that won the trophy for Barcelona the first and only time in 1992.

Barca coach Rijkaard would be promoted to the ranks of the 'World coaching elite'.


And don't forget, the team is still young - we can expect plenty more from this Barca team over the years to come.


WHAT IF WE LOSE.....


If Barca should lose, it would be one of the biggest disappointments for Barca fans, equal to the 1986 final against Steaua Bucarest in Seville. Now, as then, I firmly believe that Barca have the better team.


However, as devastating as a defeat in the final tomorrow would be, the team is big enough to come back even stronger next season. We saw it after the Chelsea defeat last year - the team has grown as a result of the experience.


ITS ALL ABOUT 90 MINUTES


The final is played in one match over 90 minutes and then its all over - the winners' names will be etched into the history books forever.
Playing a one match final mixes perfectly with the philosophy of total football and the winning mentality of the Barca players and coach Rijkaard. Barcelona always play to win the match, whoever the opponent might be and always play their own atacking game.

We saw it at Stamford Bridge and the San Siro and Barcelona came home as winners - no hidding in a return match and hoping to turn it around then. Barca has played like this all season and the team knows very well that the trophy's there to take and take it they must.


Barca plays to win and takes the initiative while Arsenal is a team that sits back and likes to react. I do not think that this will work with Barca. Arsenal did not look comfortable with it in Villarreal. One piece of magic by Ronaldinho and the Gunners will crash and burn. I can not see them coming back from goal behind.


The only problem that I can foresee would arise from Barca wasting clear goalscoring opportunities against the best Champions League defence so far.
Then it will go to penalties and Arsenal has got the only German on the pitch in their team and he is even in goal - and Germans love to win on penalties! But I very much doubt it'll get to that stage.


RONALDINHO vs. EBOUE


The most important point in the game will be the first 2-3 exchanges between Arsenal´s Eboue and Ronaldinho. If Ronaldinho gets away with his first stunning tricks and magic, we will see him smiling for the entire 90 minutes.

I guess then there are only 2 solutions for Arsenal´s defender Eboue, a red card, or by the end of the match the poor Ivory Coast defender will be wishing he had chosen some other sport than football.


AND MAY THE BEST MEN WIN


I hope the team that plays the more attractive football will win this final - in which case, I know that it will be Barca who bring the Champions League Title home to Catalunya to present it to all the Barca fans who desire the trophy so much.


Barca will play its magic possession football that has sent so many opponents into submission and then it will be Ronaldinho or Eto'o who close the argument. If not Ronaldinho or Etoo, perhaps Deco who comes up with something special... or may be Frenchman Giuly who scores so many important goals... or Larsson, our most efficient striker... or Iniesta... and even Van Bommel has to score one day!


Arsenal will defend well and will try to look for their counter attacks, but as the likes of Kaka/Shevchenko, Drogba/Cole quickly found out, the Barca defensive midfield and defender have always been on top. They will close the spaces and leave the strikers running out of ideas and running the same attacking lines again and again.


ARSENAL WILL 'DO A BORO'


I do not expect a close match, we will not go into penalties and we will emerge as the rightful owners of the trophy. Arsenal will 'do a Boro' and the Primera Liga reinforce its standing as the strongest league in the World. This is our season and I am sure this one is going down in history as one of Barcelona's best team ever.


THE BETTING


At the time of writing, the bookies had Barcelona at 1.80 (9/5) and Arsenal at 4.00 (4/1). So any Arsenal fan who claims that there's a 50/50 chance of them winning shouldn't bet on this game - it just wouldn't be right.


It has taken us 12 years to get back to the Champions League final, so we are not going to waste it and, like all good Westerns, this one will have a Happy Ending!