Less than two months after Bayern Munich lifted the 2019/20 Champions League, the elite players in Europe were back in action and a couple of them caught the eyes of Arsenal supporters.
Barcelona, who were savaged 8-2 by the Germans in the Champions League knockout stages last term, beat Hungarian champions Ferencvaros 5-1 on home soil after a summer of drama involving their star man Lionel Messi.
Arsenal supporters were seriously impressed with what they saw from a familiar face in Philippe Coutinho and rising teenage star Ansu Fati.
Both players got on the scoresheet at the Nou Camp, as some Arsenal fans pointed out how Coutinho would get into their team and do wonders for their side after a recent summer of speculation.
Back in August, Spanish publication SPORT claimed that the Gunners were keen on bringing the former Liverpool playmaker back to England, but this time to the Emirates Stadium.
At that time, Coutinho was on-loan at Bayern and had clearly fallen out of favour at Barca, so that did open a number of doors for the Brazilian.
In the end, upon his return to Spain, he stayed put and was wowing those same Arsenal supporters, as he linked up brilliantly with Fati to score a well-taken, first-time shot from inside the penalty area last night.
Mikel Arteta could have done with his services in the middle of the park because they are missing that bit of magic and creative spark in the final third.
Whilst Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will continue to score goals, his recent performances have proven that he needs feeding.
The arrival of Thomas Partey will help push the team further up the pitch, add drive, aggression and more forward-thinking play from the team.
But adding Coutinho to a midfield of Partey and the now reliable Granit Xhaka does bring a much tastier feel to it and it’s a transfer the club should have perhaps pushed harder for during the summer.
Either way, they now have to perhaps look elsewhere in the future and now watch the Champions League winner produce the goods from afar.
A number of Arsenal fans also pointed out how Fati is destined for big things in his career after his pretty ‘special’ performance at just the tender age of 17.
The Gunners have their own teenage star coming through in Bukayo Saka, both are of the same stature, they are energetic in their play and livewires with the ball, but the man at the Emirates just has that added defensive bite to his game.
Both have also been nominated for the Golden Boy award [One Football], as their recent rises from their academies into the first-team is deserving of such an award.
Not only that, but both have also represented their countries – Spain and England – for the first time in recent months.
Fati made his Spain debut in September during a draw against Germany, whilst Gareth Southgate handed Saka his first start at left wing-back during the Three Lions 3-0 win against Wales earlier on this month.
Nonetheless, just like Saka, the Arsenal fans know that big things are headed Fati’s way.
Here is a selection of Arsenal fans reacting to both Fati and Coutinho’s performances in the Champions League from last night:
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