Robin van Persie and Andrey
Arshavin struck as Arsenal staged
a brilliant late comeback to claim
a 2-1 win and give themselves a
real chance of progressing in the
Champions League.
- Cesc hails special win - Brewin:
Win provides belief - Champions
League gallery
David Villa fired Barcelona, hailed
by Arsene Wenger as the world's
best team, ahead in the first half
after combining with Lionel Messi.
But their superiority faded after
the break when Arsenal took
control, with Van Persie starting
the comeback in the 79th minute
before Andrey Arshavin smashed
home a superb winner.
Just 24 hours after their north
London rivals Tottenham shocked
Serie A leaders AC Milan, Arsenal
stunned the Spanish champions.
For spells it was last season's
quarter-final at Emirates Stadium
all over again, with Barcelona
playing some breathtaking
football orchestrated by Messi.
They made it look so easy for
much of this last-16 first-leg
clash as they slid the ball around
Arsenal's defence and sent
players darting into the box.
Wenger declared yesterday that
the Gunners were determined to
prove they were a different
team to the one humbled 6-3 on
aggregate last season.
The gulf in class still appeared to
exist, however, and the only
wonder was that Barcelona had
not made more of a purple patch,
with Messi guilty of missing a
glorious chance.
But the tide turned after the
interval when Arsenal attacked
with greater conviction and they
were rewarded with their first
win against the Spaniards.
Barcelona brought their vast
array of stellar names to north
London with Messi, Villa, Andres
Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez all on
display.
But Arsenal looked far from
intimidated by their opponents'
reputation as they set off at a
frantic pace, Theo Walcott
initiating the onslaught at
breakneck speed.
Having carved Barcelona open
once early on, Walcott threaded
his way across the penalty area,
evading several defenders as he
ran, before finding an unmarked
Cesc Fabregas.
The skipper lifted the ball to Van
Persie who forced a superb save
on the half-volley from Victor
Valdes from a tight angle.
Sensing they needed to weather
the storm against an Arsenal side
looking to make an early
statement, Barcelona bided their
time before moving through the
gears in the 15th minute.
Arsenal's defence was
outmanoeuvred when Iniesta sent
Messi through on goal.
Messi had timed his run perfectly,
leaving Laurent Koscielny and
Johan Djourou stranded, but with
only Champions League debutant
Wojciech Szczesny to beat he
steered his shot wide of the right
post.
It was a massive let-off for the
Gunners, who found themselves
being pushed back with increasing
regularity as Messi directed a
shot from a good chance straight
at Szczesny.
Once again Walcott sliced through
Barcelona's midfield, picking out
Fabregas, but the Spaniard's
cross was cleared just before Van
Persie could connect.
The visitors had been threatening
a goal, however, and it arrived in
the 27th minute through Villa.
It all looked so easy as Messi
played a perfect pass through to
the Spain striker who expertly
sent his shot past Szczesny.
Respite was offered by a dynamic
run from Jack Wilshere, but the
move ended when Van Persie
took one touch too many before
unleashing his shot.
Messi scrambled the ball into the
net as half-time approached but
the flag had been raised for
offside.
Arsenal made a bright start to
the second half with Wilshere just
failing to get enough power on
his shot to trouble Valdes.
There was greater energy about
Arsenal as they staged a series
of attacks, although their cause
was not helped when Fabregas
sent a free-kick into the arms of
Valdes.
The returning Samir Nasri
threatened at the near post but
Gerard Pique arrived to bundle
his cross into touch before Van
Persie could connect and
moments later the Dutchman was
kept out by Valdes.
Arsenal suffered a scare in the
68th minute when Eboue let Messi
creep free, but the Argentinian
hit the sidenetting instead of
squaring to a line of team-mates
queuing up to pounce.
Arsenal continued to press as the
game became increasingly open
and in the 79th minute their
endeavour was rewarded.
Gael Clichy did the initial damage
with a superbly-lofted ball down
the left channel that was
gathered by Van Persie.
The Holland marksman was at a
tight angle but his powerful shot
slipped inside Valdes at the near
post.
It was a poor piece of
goalkeeping from Valdes but he
could do nothing about the
winner that arrived with six
minutes to go.
Revelling in the space now
available to them, Arsenal burst
free down the right through
Nasri.
Arshavin, who had replaced
Walcott, arrived on the edge of
the penalty area to pick up the
Frenchman's pass before burying
the ball into the back of the net
for the goal which gives Arsenal
the edge ahead of their
challenging trip to the Nou Camp.
March 08, 2011, 07:32:54 AM