Lionel Messi proved a thorn in Arsenal’s side yet again as his second-half goals earned Barcelona a 2-0 win at Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Tuesday. “We had an unbelievable chance in the first half and the way we finished our chances is a problem”, Wenger said. “I am very happy for how we did our work in each moment”.
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We’ll now have to pull off a miracle at the Nou Camp in three weeks time to stand any chance of turning the tie around.
Mathieu Flamini fouled the Argentina superstar seven minutes from time and he duly doubled his tally from the penalty spot, leaving Wenger to compare elements of a largely creditable display to last season’s humiliating home defeat against Monaco at the same stage.
Neymar, who had been a peripheral figure, was denied by Cech after running onto a through pass by Andres Iniesta as the game moved from end to end.
“We had plenty of possession, we defended very well and we managed Arsenal’s transitions (counter-attacks) very well”.
At one point in the third set, the Swiss world number four was just two points away from losing his opening game to Stakhovsky but instead found enough to get the win.
“But there is always something positive we can take and we go to Manchester United because we want to compete in the Premier League”.
“Barcelona is a great team”, said Wenger.
Lionel Messi finally broke his Petr Cech hex as Arsenal’s impressive rearguard action ultimately came to naught against Barcelona in this round of 16 first leg. “I knew before the game in the last 20 minutes we’d have a chance to win the game if we didn’t make any mistakes and that’s the frustration of the night”. Bidding to become the first club since AC Milan in 1990 to retain the Champions League, the Spanish giants absorbed Arsenal’s pressure before scoring twice in the final quarter. They are better than us, there is no shame, they are European champions and that is no coincidence.
BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand says Per Mertesacker should take most of the blame for Barcelona’s second goal against Arsenal in the Champions League.
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“Everyone who knows about football knows you need a first half like this in order to have a second like the one we had”. “We have missed some, but the goalkeepers have studied us very well”.
