Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas has claimed that the Arsenal crowd will be nervy every time Barcelona's front three of Lionel Messi, Neymar or Luis Suarez gets the ball in the Champions League encounter at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.

The former Arsenal man has predicted a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the last-16 tie between the two clubs but believes that the Gunners will have to be at their absolute best against the might of the Catalan giants.

He writes for Sky Sports: "I'll be a nervous wreck in the Sky Sports studio every time either Lionel Messi, Neymar or Luis Suarez get the ball and the fans at the Emirates will feel the same.

"They are probably the best three in the world. I include Cristiano Ronaldo in that and I genuinely think they'll be the three competing for the Ballon d'Or next season, they've been that good.

"You get to the stage where you wonder how on earth you even begin to plan to stop them. Do you put two holding midfielders in? Well that means you're never going to attack and the one thing we know is that Barca do leak goals.

"I think Arsenal know they need to take a risk and go for it. What would be a comfortable result to take to the Camp Nou? Is 3-0 even enough to make them favourites to go through?

"Olivier Giroud has to have a right go at Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano, Alexis Sanchez will be up for playing his old club and it's another chance for Mesut Ozil to show he can shine among the stars. However, it's Petr Cech that I'm really hoping will show just how important he is.

"Whatever happens I will enjoy it in a strange way as Barcelona are just the best team on the planet right now and a pleasure to watch every time they walk on a football pitch."