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European Champions League

Arsenal 2 - Barcelona 1

Arsenal: Szczesny; Eboué, Djorou, Koscielny, Clichy; Wilsher, Song (Arshavin 68'); Walcott (Bendtner 76'), Cesc Fábregas, Nasri; Van Persie. 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Dani Alves, Piqué, Abidal, Maxwell; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta (Adriano 89'); Pedro, Messi, David Villa (Keita 65'). 4-3-3.

Goals:
0-1. 26. Villa. Ran on to Messi through ball and steered shot past keeper.
1-1. 78. Van Persie. Picked up Clichy pass and beat Valdés from wide angle.
2-1. 83. Arshavin. First time shot wide of keeper after Nasri laid ball across.

A rude awakening for Barcelona in London, Guardiola's side unable to hold on to a one goal lead as they lost 2-1 to Arsenal in the Emirates stadium on Wednesday evening. Messi (who has never scored in six games in the UK) missed two or three what for him were relatively easy chances before setting up Villa to open the scoring midway through the first half. And before the half time break the Argentinian forward got the ball in the net only to be pulled up for a more than dubious offside. After the restart though the Premier League side got back in the game, Wilshire, Van Persie and Fábregas all failing to find the target. Pedro had a penalty appeal turned down at the other end, but with twelve minutes to go Van Persie ran on to Cichy's pass to beat Valdés from a wide angle, and six minutes later substitute Arshavin latched on to a cross from Van Persie to beat the keeper for a second time. Villa's away goal may prove crucial in the end, but this was not what Barça expected.