Such has been the hype that this game seems to have transcended club rivalries and become about the philosophy of the game.

But of course, the fear remains . . . just as we saw in the semi-final second legs . . . the weight of the occasion will once again throw the shackles on creativity. It's something Barcelona are all too familiar with, particularly in this competition. Four times they've reached the final as overwhelming favourites and on three of those occasions they've completely frozen. Forever reminded of Real Madrid's supremacy in the European Cup, they've developed a neurosis about it. The atmosphere around this suggests it will be different though.

That Milan game at the Nou Camp apart, Barcelona have responded to any challenges this season with a patient and confident maturity, while at Arsenal there is a sense they can actually enjoy this match having given Highbury an appropriate send-off last week by securing Champions League football for next season. Furthermore, both clubs approach the game with an almost clean slate. Neither have suspensions, while both . . . Lionel Messi and Abou Diaby apart . . .are relatively injury-free.

So, finally, we may have an open finale where both teams feel the freedom to play their natural game. And if that's the case it's impossible to bet against Barcelona. Arsenal's strength this season has been based on sitting back until there is a sufficient opportunity to launch a lightning counter-attack. And though Barcelona's high-playing defence look susceptible to the pace of Thierry Henry and Jose Reyes, the danger here is that if Arsenal leave them . . . and in particular Ronaldinho . . . too much time on the ball, their own record-breaking defence will inevitably be pierced. Probably more than once.

Barca to give us a fitting culmination to a fine season then. And a final, hopefully, that surpasses expectation.