Barcelona liked playing Arsenal in the UCL because they dominate them

Dani Alves says Barcelona always liked playing against Arsenal in the Champions League as they were able to "dominate" them.

The Catalan club eliminated Arsenal from the Champions League in the 2009/10, 2010/11 and 2015/16 seasons.

Alves believes the two clubs' shared philosophy allowed Barcelona to control games against the Gunners, particularly at the Camp Nou, where they scored ten goals in three games.

"We definitely liked to face Arsenal," Alves told Four Four Two. "They had a similar football style to ours and this sometimes helped to facilitate our way of playing.

"They were a team we dominated and had a control over. Every time we faced Arsenal, we'd have a good result or good performance."

Arsenal will face the architect of that Barcelona team, Pep Guardiola, when they travel to Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.

Guardiola's Barcelona won the Champions League in 2009 and 2011, beating Manchester United on both occasions.

Alves fondly remembers those Champions League wins and believes the 2011 team that won 3-1 at Wembley is rightly regarded as one of the best of all time.

"Talking to several football experts, they haven't seen another team as incredible as that Barcelona," he said.

"We represented the definition of a collective game. We ate, drank and breathed football, so moments like winning the Champions League were rewards for all our efforts."

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