Arsenal OUT UEFA: Barcelona 3-1 Arsenal (5-1 agg)
The rain fell in Spain as Arsenal disappeared down the Champions League drain. Again.
Out
in the first knockout round for the sixth successive year and, as so
often before, flickering into life only when the tie was out of reach.
It has become a damning trademark of this Arsene Wenger team.
There
were missed chances and mistakes to lament from the first leg in London
and yet it was difficult to escape the feeling that Barcelona were
operating in second gear on Wednesday night.
Lionel Messi capped the win with a trademark dink over David Ospina to put the gloss on the result as Barcelona progressed
The Argentine lifts the ball over the
Arsenal goalkeeper to make it 5-1 on aggregate as Barca confirmed their
place in the last eight
Luis Suarez showed incredible agility
as he volleyed Dani Alves' cross into the top corner to give Barcelona a
2-1 lead on the night
Suarez performs his customary celebration after firing Barcelona back ahead as the European champions reached the last eight
Mohamed Elneny fired Arsenal level with a stunning curling effort from outside the penalty area to offer the Gunners hope
The Egyptian midfielder celebrates his
first goal for Arsenal as Arsene Wenger's side attempted to pull of an
unlikely turnaround
Brazil forward Neymar put the home
side ahead after 18 minutes as he fired past Ospina with his left foot
ahead of Hector Bellerin
Neymar guided the finish past the Gunners goalkeeper after collecting the measured through pass from Luis Suarez (not pictured)
Neymar celebrates with Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi after giving the Catalan giants the lead at the Nou Camp
MATCH FACTS
Barcelona XI (4-3-3): Ter Stegen 6.5, Dani Alves 7, Mascherano 7, Mathieu 7, Jordi Alba 7.5, Rakitic 6.5 (Arda Turan 77 6), Busquets 6.5, Iniesta 8 (Sergi Roberto 72 6), Suarez 9, Messi 8, Neymar 8.5
Subs not used: Bravo, Bartra, Aleix Vidal, Vermaelen, Munir El Haddadi
Scorer: Neymar 18, Suarez 65, Messi 88
Booked: Turan
Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Ospina 6.5, Bellerin 6, Gariel 6.5, Koscielny 6, Monreal 6.5, Flamini 5 (Coquelin 45 6), Elneny 7.5, Iwobi 7.5 (Giroud 72 6), Ozil 6, Alexis Sanchez 6.5, Welbeck 7 (Walcott 73 6)
Subs not used: Macey, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Campbell
Scorer: Elneny 51
Booked: Flamini, Gabriel, Sanchez, Giroud
Referee: Sergei Karasev (Russia) 7
Barcelona XI (4-3-3): Ter Stegen 6.5, Dani Alves 7, Mascherano 7, Mathieu 7, Jordi Alba 7.5, Rakitic 6.5 (Arda Turan 77 6), Busquets 6.5, Iniesta 8 (Sergi Roberto 72 6), Suarez 9, Messi 8, Neymar 8.5
Subs not used: Bravo, Bartra, Aleix Vidal, Vermaelen, Munir El Haddadi
Scorer: Neymar 18, Suarez 65, Messi 88
Booked: Turan
Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Ospina 6.5, Bellerin 6, Gariel 6.5, Koscielny 6, Monreal 6.5, Flamini 5 (Coquelin 45 6), Elneny 7.5, Iwobi 7.5 (Giroud 72 6), Ozil 6, Alexis Sanchez 6.5, Welbeck 7 (Walcott 73 6)
Subs not used: Macey, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Campbell
Scorer: Elneny 51
Booked: Flamini, Gabriel, Sanchez, Giroud
Referee: Sergei Karasev (Russia) 7
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