Sport nationOn Thursday, Arsenal and Barcelona played out a seven-goal thriller, with the Premier League side coming out on top with a 5-3 victory against their Spanish challengers.
But it seems as though Xavi was a little annoyed and he thought that the pace and heat of the game was ‘too high’ and he expressed those thoughts to Mikel Arteta, as posted by Barca Universal on Twitter.
It needs to be remembered that this is Barcelona’s first game of pre-season, whilst Arsenal have been at it for a while now.
Therefore, there is going to be a big difference in fitness levels, as the La Liga champions found out.
But Arsenal can’t play at a slower pace, just because their opponents are a little behind, they had to go at it like there is a Premier League game tomorrow, with Xavi sharing his thoughts.
Arsenal v FC Barcelona – Pre-Season Friendly
Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images
“I understand that everyone wants to win,” said Xavi. “But I told Arteta that it looked like a Champions League match. The intensity that they put was too high.”
Xavi: “I understand that everyone wants to win, but I told Arteta that it looked like a Champions League match. The intensity that they put was too high.” pic.twitter.com/MydjrS9NVm
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) July 27, 2023
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Arsenal have to play the game at their pace
It does seem like Xavi is a little annoyed that Arsenal were pushing hard during the game, well, what do you expect, they have to prepare their own way?!
They can’t drop their levels just because of their opponents, pre-season or not.
Plus, they have probably done Barcelona a favour because they have livened them up a lot more compared to other teams that would have just relaxed and let the game ease out
Xavi Hernandez has shared that he told Mikel Arteta that Arsenal and Barcelona’s pre-season clash in America ‘felt like a Champions League game’.
On Thursday, Arsenal and Barcelona played out a seven-goal thriller, with the Premier League side coming out on top with a 5-3 victory against their Spanish challengers.
But it seems as though Xavi was a little annoyed and he thought that the pace and heat of the game was ‘too high’ and he expressed those thoughts to Mikel Arteta, as posted by Barca Universal on Twitter.
It needs to be remembered that this is Barcelona’s first game of pre-season, whilst Arsenal have been at it for a while now.
Therefore, there is going to be a big difference in fitness levels, as the La Liga champions found out.
But Arsenal can’t play at a slower pace, just because their opponents are a little behind, they had to go at it like there is a Premier League game tomorrow, with Xavi sharing his thoughts.
Arsenal v FC Barcelona – Pre-Season Friendly
Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images
“I understand that everyone wants to win,” said Xavi. “But I told Arteta that it looked like a Champions League match. The intensity that they put was too high.”
Xavi: “I understand that everyone wants to win, but I told Arteta that it looked like a Champions League match. The intensity that they put was too high.”
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) July 27, 2023
View Tweet
Arsenal have to play the game at their pace
It does seem like Xavi is a little annoyed that Arsenal were pushing hard during the game, well, what do you expect, they have to prepare their own way?!
They can’t drop their levels just because of their opponents, pre-season or not.
Plus, they have probably done Barcelona a favour because they have livened them up a lot more compared to other teams that would have just relaxed and let the game ease out.
.
Sport nation
Amina Umar