Still, amid the pre-match buzz a formerly high profile name went missing: Javier Mascherano. Since arriving from Liverpool the stalwart Argentine midfielder has been absent from the Barcelona lineup in most competitions. He is still alive, as his Nike spot suggests, but he has already been written off as surplus requirements at the Nou Camp.
Why pay 22 million quid for a bench warmer? Is he merely a bargaining chip for next summer's transfer window? Like Ibrahimovic, Mascherano could be another one season wonder whose legacy could easily be swallowed up in the next six months of la Liga action. Meanwhile, the South American hard man will likely ride the Barcelona pine towards a few league honors.
If Barcelona come for Cesc Fabregas again, Mascherano is a tempting cash plus player option. While Alex Song has been slightly more convincing this season he is by no means a midfielder of Claude Makele's class. Arsenal need trophies and Song could easily be written off as collateral damage to win a title. Moreover, time is not on Arsene Wenger's side as age and Arsenal's patience are working against him.
Surprisingly, Mascherano, whose transfer from Liverpool was notoriously hush hush, has stayed suspiciously silent despite is noticeable absence from the Blaugrana starting XI. A cynical observer could even suggest that his outcast status is mutually understood and consented.
Where is Javier Mascherano? For now, he is at Barcelona. But it is unlikely that he will retain the same address in August of 2011.
