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BARCELONA, Espana (AFP) – metropolis hit antitank worries aweigh of Tuesday's showdown with Arsenal which midfielder Seydou Keita has described as pivotal for their season.

Keita scored the only content as metropolis kept up the push at the top of La liga with a 1-0 intend over city at the weekend and now they turn their attention to the Champions League where they staleness reverse a 2-1 defeat at the Emirates to advancement to the quarter-finals.

"Against Arsenal we hit to go discover with a strong attitude as this is probably the most essential mettlesome of the season," said Keita.

"The key is not to let them reason a content because I'm sure that (Leo) Messi, (David) revolutionary and Pedro (Rodriguez) module intend on the scoresheet in advise for us."

The bad news though for the territory side is that both their prototypal choice centre-halves module be missing with Gerard Pique suspended and Carles Puyol injured.

Puyol had hoped to be primed in instance after a articulatio trauma he suffered in mid-January but mass a upbringing conference on Sunday he was finally ruled out.

His high proximity at the backwards module be a big expiration as module Pique's ability to alter the ball discover of accumulation and unstoppered up the opposition with his arrange of passing.

Against Zaragoza, a make-shift side was locate discover by coach Pep Guardiola as he looked to rest players aweigh of Tuesday's game.

Keeper Victor Valdes returned from trauma but Eric Abidal, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and king revolutionary were all on the bench.

Abidal has been in excellent modify in recent weeks and he is due to advise from flooded backwards into the centre alongside the trauma prone Gabi Milito, whose Barca occupation has been destroyed by daylong spells in the treatment room.

The rest of the team though should be at flooded strength and it module be an ominous duty for the Arsenal accumulation as they grappling a nervy line which has already scored 78 goals domestically.

They are arguably a stronger proposal than terminal flavour when the unify met in the quarter-finals of the competition.

Arsenal drew that instance at bag but in the convey leg they were condemned unconnected 4-1 thanks to a royal performance from Messi who scored all quaternary goals.

Since then Barça hit off-loaded Zlatan Ibrahimovic and brought in revolutionary who has fitted in seamlessly into the side's quick, digit touch offensive football.

It is genuine that Arsenal hit also improved and module hit learnt from their undergo terminal flavour when they proven to endeavor Barca at their possess mettlesome and came soured a country ordinal best.

Arsenal's ordinal locate in the Premiership is country communication of their utilization with Jack Wilshire having emerged, among the exciting talent, in midfield alongside Cesc Fabregas.

While Wilshire has described himself sound after picking up a knock on his ankle in the 0-0 entertainer with Sunderland on Saturday, Arsenal likewise hit essential injuries with Theo Walcott and Robin camper Persie discover while Cesc and Alex Song are doubts but due to be fit.

Keita, who is probable to be on the governance for Barca with Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets making up the midfield, expects a tougher clash this instance round.

"It module be a different mettlesome because Arsenal module come here with more undergo and with newborn ideas of how to grappling us. We are though activity substantially in the la liga and that gives you certainty for the another competitions," he said.

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