Champions League Final...Almost

It's almost here - the Champions League Final. Arsenal v. Barcelona. Two of the most fluent offenses in the world of football going head to head, and boot to boot, for the most prestigious professional tournament title.

This match has so many subplots it's hard to track them. Will Barcelona's high-octane front-line overpower the young Arsenal backline (though bolstered by Ashley Cole's return), that has somehow managed to keep 10 straight European clean sheets? Will an Arsenal win be enough to convince Thierry Henry to stay with Arsenal or conversely, will a defeat send him packing his bags for Barcelona? Can Barcelona's defense do what Real Madrid, Juventus, Villareal and others failed to do, contain the superb Thierry Henry? Can an underacheiving EPL team win the Champions Cup 2 years running? Will Wunderkind Lionel Messi return to inject the Barcelona side with even more brilliance?

For Arsenal fans, this match is a dream come true. A chance to taste European glory that has so long been denied; and, against the team that defeated them in the last finals match they appeared in, back in 1999. I'm a fan of both clubs (though Arsenal is tops in my book), and either side is deserving, but I strongly favor Arsenal in the head to head and am looking forward to a Gunner victory tomorrow.

More match commentary can be found here and here and here and here. And some silliness

Go Gunners!