For one hour at the Grove last Wednesday, Barcelona blew Arsenal to smithereens. Leading 2-0 (though it might have been 6-0), last season's Champions League winners

Then Theo Walcott entered the fray. His go-faster boots changed the game completely. He skinned Barca left-back Maxwell to score Arsenal's first goal. With the visitors on the back foot for the first time in the game, Arsenal pushed forward and won the penalty that made the score 2-2. Miracle No.1: check.

Can Walcott pull off the same trick tonight at the Nou Camp? The circumstances are very different - due to even more Arsenal injuries (no Fabregas, Arshavin, Gallas, Van Persie and Song for starters), Walcott will start. And whilst last week he was in something of a no-lose scenario, this time he and his team have everything to lose.

For Barca, Eric Abidal will start in place of Maxwell. The Frenchman is more robust than the Brazilian he replaces and will get tight to Walcott at every opportunity. Abidal is not worried about Walcott. He says: "It may be really good for him to run 100m in a little over 10 seconds, but the aim is to get to the goal. We’ll wait there for him and we’ll see what he can do with the ball – let’s see if he can get past four defenders."

With no Fabregas to run things from the heart of midfield, Walcott is Arsenal's most likely creator of goals. I wonder if Walcott is mentally strong enough to cope with such a burden in Barca's back yard - or if he's even a good enough footballer. As Abidal says, having pace is one thing; knowing what to do with it is an entirely different thing.

With so many of Arsenal's key players out injured, it's all on Walcott to prove he's no longer the boy wonder. I have my doubts. Barca to win at a stylish canter.