{"id":658,"date":"2026-03-18T21:39:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T21:39:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/?p=658"},"modified":"2026-03-18T21:39:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T21:39:18","slug":"joleon-lescott-makes-arsenal-claim-after-barcelona-thrash-newcastle-in-champions-league-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/?p=658","title":{"rendered":"Joleon Lescott makes Arsenal claim after Barcelona thrash Newcastle in Champions League | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Manchester\t<\/div>
Former Premier League winner Joleon Lescott (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Joleon Lescott believes Arsenal will still prove too much for Barcelona should the two sides meet in the Champions League semi-finals.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Hansi Flick\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

But former Manchester City defender Lescott believes that Arsenal would be a considerable \u2018problem\u2019 for Barca should both sides meet in the semi-finals in what would be a repeat of the 2006 final.<\/p>\n

Asked to rate Barcelona\u2019s chances in this year\u2019s competition, Lescott told TNT Sports: \u2018I wouldn\u2019t say so just because of the way they defend. <\/p>\n

\u2018I 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. <\/p>\n

\n

\n

\t\t\t\tYour football fix\t\t\t<\/h2>\n

\n

Metro<\/strong>‘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.<\/p>\n

Sign up here, it’s an open goal.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"FC\t<\/div>
Barcelona cruised past Newcastle with an 8-3 aggregate win (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018But yes, when they play like this, especially as long as it\u2019s two legs, and how exciting they are and how dominant they are at home, they\u2019ve got a chance.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\u2019s side.<\/p>\n

\u2018I think in the cold light of day, when Eddie looks back, I think just frustrating,\u2019 Given said. <\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Arsenal\t<\/div>
Mikel Arteta\u2019s Arsenal could await Barca in the semis (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

\n

\t\t\t\tChampions League quarter-final draw\t\t\t<\/h2>\n

\n

Paris Saint-Germain vs Galatasaray or Liverpool<\/p>\n

Real Madrid vs Atalanta or Bayern Munich<\/p>\n

Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid or Tottenham<\/p>\n

Sporting CP vs Arsenal<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2018I think the fourth goal came in the 51st minute but we said at half-time, Newcastle don\u2019t have to go out and press them all ovr the pitch and get picked off. <\/p>\n

\u2018I think they had to be more settled in the second half and be more defensive and frustrate them and quiet this crowd down. <\/p>\n

\u2018Don\u2019t jump out of your positions too much, but the fourth goal comes along and it\u2019s game over at that point, and then it\u2019s just getting picked off for fun because Barcelona really stepped it up in the second half. <\/p>\n

\u2018We are on the pitch level and the speed to move the ball, the movement, the rotations all over the pitch \u2013 they are a top team going forward.\u2019<\/p>\n

Reflecting after the game, Howe side: \u2018Tough way to go out. Really strange to sum that up. First half we were excellent, albeit both halves we didn\u2019t defend properly in key areas. In the second half we weren\u2019t as good.<\/p>\n

\u2018Psychologically, 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\u2019t recover.\u2019<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
\nFacebook, <\/strong>Twitter<\/a> and\u00a0Instagram<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/svg>MORE: Sandro Tonali injury update after Newcastle defeat to Barcelona in Champions League<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/svg>MORE: Darren Bent claims Arsenal star looked \u2018desperate\u2019 against Bayer Leverkusen<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/svg>MORE: Arsenal warned \u2018perfect\u2019 Sporting have one huge advantage in Champions League clash<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\tComment now<\/title>\n<\/svg><\/span>
\n\t\t\tComments<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/title>\n<\/svg><\/span>
\n\t\t\t\tAdd as preferred source<\/span>
\n\t\t\t<\/section>\n
\n
\n

Football Newsletter \u2013 In The Mixer<\/h4>\n

Punchy analysis, transfer talk and more from Metro’s football experts, sent straight to your inbox every week.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n