Barca Best Ten-Man Arsenal To Reach QFs (Video)
Messi's double brings Barca qualification into last 8 (Foto: eurosport.com)
Arsene Wenger had declared before the game that his side would focus on attack, but Arsenal could barely create a couple of attempts on goal during the 90 minutes. FC Barcelona outclassed the Gunners 3-1 last night on Camp Nou to reach the last eight thanks to a 4-3 aggregate.
Messi and Xabi have brought the Catalans a well-deserved qualification after scoring Barca’s three goals in front of a 90,000 crowd, while Busquets’s own-goal could have allowed Arsenal go through. Van Persie received two yellow cards, one for a tough challenge on Dani Alves and the other for kicking the ball away in the second half.
Arsenal’s striker would blame referee’s ‘total joke’ red card at the end of the game. The player explained Massimo Busacca he did not hear the whistle because of the uproar, but that wouldn’t change referee’s decision. The Gunners couldn’t resist but ten minutes without the Dutch striker and conceded two more goals in inferiority.
The game started with Pedro’s attempt to break through, his action being blocked by Koscielny who has shined from the very first minute. The French midfielder would stop even Messi in the 11th minute following a dangerous move from the Argentine who could have scored if the former Lorient player hadn’t stayed close to him. Just three minutes later Koscielny was booked for a foul on Pedro.
Dani Alves took a perpendicular free-kick to dislocate Szczesny’s finger. The game was topped by the Swiss referee as the keeper underwent treatment. The Polish was then replaced by Spaniard Manuel Almunia.
Pedro got his second chance in the 26th minute but his lob went just wide over the bar. Messi’s late shot headed straight into the keeper, but the Argentine wouldn’t miss again one minute later. Fabregas lost the ball on the edge of the box to allow Iniesta feed Messi with a superb pass which he converted into a first lead. The end of the first half found Whilshere earning a yellow for an earlier foul on Iniesta.
Hardly did the second part begin that Arsenal were leveling. Wenger’s side won a corner on their left in the 53rd minute. Nasri took the responsibility for it as Busquets headed it into the own net for 1-1 and 3-2 on aggregate to Arsenal.
One of the crucial moments was Van Persie’s elimination. The Dutch was caught offside in the 56th minute. Persie continued the action, reason for which the Swiss showed him a second yellow to the dismay of the striker and Arsene Wenger. The striker blamed the noise or the anemic blow to leave the pitch in frustration.
Barca got close to their second goal just one minute later, but David Villa’s action was blocked by Almunia. The two would meet again in the 65th minute but the scoreboard showed the same 1-1.
Barca made it 2-1 two minutes later. A perfect trade mark combination between Iniesta, Villa finished with a lovely pass for Xabi who homed it through defender’s legs and Almunia’s hand. 3-3 and Arsenal still had one chance to qualify. But the unexpected was yet to come. For Barca, the third goal was just a matter of time. The 67th minute found the Catalans winning a penalty. Koscielny fouled Pedro inside the box as Messi converted down the corner, on Almunia’s left.
Barca would get dozens of chances, but the scoreboard remained unchanged until the final whistle. The final found Arsenal’s staff rushing at the referee, blaming some of the tough decisions.
Wenger declared after the game that he didn’t understand referee’s red card decision for Van Persie: “I cannot imagine that someone who has played football, in a game of that importance, makes that decision at the moment he did. Even if he heard the whistle, I still don’t understand the decision.” The French manager admitted Barca’s victory but claimed that things could have looked different but for Dutch’s elimination. “We would come back into the game. I am convinced we would have won this game.”
Former Barca player Cesc Fabregas was booed by the Catalans fans while replacing Nicklas Bendtner. Both coaches have made the three changes. Wenger introduced the first leg hero Arshavin, Almunia and Bendtner for Rosicky, Szczesny and Fabregas, while Pep Guardiola replaced Villa, Correia and Mascherano with Maxwell, Afellay and Keita.
FC Barcelona – Victor Valdez; Correia, Abidal, Busquets, Dani Alves; Mascherano, Iniesta, Xabi; Villa, Messi, Pedro. Reserves: Bojan, Thiago, J. Pinto, Maxwell, Afellay, G. Milito, S. Keita.
Arsenal – Szczesny; Sagna, Koscielny, Djourou, Clichy; Wilshere, Diaby; Rosicky, Fabregas, Nasri, van Persie. Reserves: Denilson, Almunia, S. Squillaci, M. Chamakh, A. Arshavin, E. Eboue, N. Bendtner.
