Our Stone Age Game Exposed at Emirates

ITV'S Andy Townsend may have taken the words out of the mouths of millions of viewers with comments he made about Barcelona during Wednesday's Champions League tie against Arsenal at the Emirates. The Catalan side were leading 1-0 at the time, and looking like they could score again, when Townsend remarked: 'It's educational, this stuff they play; so beautiful to watch.' Barcelona, in short, were breathtaking.

 But then so were Arsenal as they came back at them in spectacular style to win 2-1 and protect their chance of progressing to the next round. There can't have been many, if any, more compelling spectacles than this in the history of the tournament... well, since Real Madrid won the old European Cup in 1960 by beating Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 at Hampden.

 Small wonder Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas admitted in Sportsmail yesterday: 'For me, this is the best game I've ever experienced on the pitch in terms of quality and intensity.