Live Text isn't live anymore, this is a record of the match events.
Full Time All over: The referee brings the game to an end. Arsenal go out of the Champions League
90
But Arsenal take it short and can’t take advantage
90
ARSENAL FREE KICK: One last chance to load one into the box…
90
ARSENAL GOAL KICK: Almunia punts forward…
90
ARSENAL CAN’T KEEP HOLD OF THE BALL: When Barca have it, it’s so hard for Arsenal to get it back
90
INTO INJURY TIME: Four minutes for Arsenal to find a goal…
89
Substitution And another Barca change: Maxwell for Adriano
88
Substitution Barca change: Keita for Mascherano
87
WAS THAT THE FINAL CHANCE?: Barcelona have the ball again, this isn’t good for Arsenal. We need the ball…
86
OH WHAT A CHANCE: Bendtner has a chance to send Arsenal through, but he can’t take it! Wilshere wins the ball and slips in Bendtner down the middle, his touch lets him down and Valdes smothers. Should he have taken that first time?
85
ARSENAL CAN’T GET THE BALL: Barca should kill them off but Alves shoots well wide when one-on-one with Almunia
83
ALMUNIA MAKES HIMSELF BIG: Another great stop from Almunia. Another passing move from Barca presents Afellay a chance but he can only shoot straight at the keeper
82
AFELLAY INVOLVED STRAIGHT AWAY: He runs down the left and fires just wide of the right post with Djourou in close attendance
81
Substitution Barca change: Afellay on for Villa
80
ALMUNIA SAVES BRILLIANTLY AGAIN: Xavi chips the ball over the defence to Messi, who pokes the ball straight at the keeper
78
KEEP BALL FROM BARCA: Some of the Arsenal players must be tiring now, they are down to ten men and have defended so well for such ling periods
77
ALMUNIA DENIES MESSI: Barca work the ball wonderfully across the penalty area and Messi fires at the goalkeepers legs from close range
76
Substitution FINAL CHANGE: Bendtner replaces Cesc
75
ARSENAL ATTACKING: Encouraging from the Gunners but Cesc is flagged offside
73
Substitution It’s going to be difficult now. But Wenger reacts with a change: Arshavin for Rosicky
71
GOAL! - Lionel Messi 3 : 1 Messi casually rolls the ball into the right corner
70
Barca penalty: Koscielny brings down Pedro inside the area and the referee points to the spot
68
A wonderful passing move ends when with Xavi slotting past Almunia from close range
68
GOAL! - Xavi 2 : 1 Goal for Barca: Xavi puts his side back in front
66
MORE WHISTLES: The Barca fans are getting more and more frustrated as the game goes on like this. They are doing all the pressing but Arsenal are defending resolutely
65
WHAT A SAVE FROM ALMUNIA: How important will that be come the end of the game? Messi angles a ball through to Villa but Almunia spreads himself to make a great stop with his legs
64
PEDRO DRIBBLING: Inside the area, Clichy hangs out a leg but doesn’t make contact with the Spaniard, luckily
63
NASRI ON HIS OWN: Fabregas floats a ball out to Nasri on the left and he runs at Alves before being crowded out by the covering Iniesta
62
GREAT BLOCK FROM DJOUROU: Messi jinks past a few challenges and fires a shot goalwards. The Swiss defender makes a crucial block
61
ARSENAL CAN’T KEEP IT: At the moment, it’s all Barca
60
BARCA PRESSING: Alves fires a shot high over the bar and Almunia claims well from a cross from the right
58
What did you make of that Van Persie sending off? Get your comments to us via www.arsenal.com/studio.
56
A CRAZY COUPLE OF MINUTES: Arsenal back on level terms but down to ten. The game is stretched at the moment and Almunia smothers at the feet of Villa again
55
Yellow Card OH NO: Van Persie has been given a second yellow card for ‘kicking the ball’ away after the whistle had gone. That is so harsh! He is claiming he couldn’t hear the whistle but he is off. Arsenal are down to ten men
54
VILLA THROUGH: But Almunia smothers well
53
Nasri floated the corner over from the right and Busquets turns the ball into his own net. Diaby was the closest man in an Arsenal shirt but that’s definitely an own goal
52
GOAL! - Sergio Busquets 1 : 1 GOAL FOR ARSENAL! It’s 1-1…
51
ARSENAL CORNER: Nasri has three men around him but somehow manages to win a conrer
50
ALVES FORWARD: Arsenal are on the back foot for the time being.
49
ANOTHER BARCA CORNER: Djourou diverts the ball behind. Barca are pressing here
48
MESSI LOOKING DANGEROUS: He attacks the Arsenal defence, not once but twice, in the space of 30 seconds. He wins a corner off Clichy but Arsenal clear
47
BARCA WIN IT BACK: But a through ball runs harmlessly to Almunia
46
ARSENAL GOING FORWARD: Diaby plays it to Nasri out on the left touchline and he wins a throw
46
BACK UNDERWAY: Arsenal get things going again, kicking from left to right
Half Time And there’s the half-time whistle. 1-0 to Barca at the break. But this game is far from over...
45
Oh Cesc. The captain tries a little back heel on the edge of his area and Iniesta steals in. He slips through Messi, who dinks the ball over the onrushing Almunia and fires into the empty net. It’s 1-0 Barca
45
GOAL! - Lionel Messi 1 : 0 Goal for Barca: It’s Messi, in first-half stoppage time
45
WHAT A CHANCE: By far and away the best chance of the first half. Messi cuts inside onto his left foot but, thankfully, fires straight at Almunia from 12 yards. Decent stop from the Spaniard
44
Yellow Card IT’S GETTING A BIT HEATED: Van Persie is booked as he and Alves go up for an aerial challenge
43
WILSHERE DOWN: He is felled by a Barca player and then there is something of a melee. Barca think he is time-wasting, which is rubbish. I think Guardiola’s side are slightly rattled here.
42
XAVI HEADS AWAY: Barca clear
41
ARSENAL CORNER: That’s the first of the night for the Gunners. He wins one off Abidal down on the right
40
What have you made of things so far? Get your comments to us via www.arsenal.com/studio.
39
FRENETIC: Arsenal break with Sagna down the right, his ball to Fabregas just evades the captain and Barca win it back.
38
VAN PERSIE: A lot was made of his inclusion but we haven’t seen much of the Dutchman just yet. Arsenal have struggled to keep the ball and get it up to him
36
ARSENAL STANDING STRONG: Messi fires a free kick from range into the wall. The home fans are starting to get a little frustrated now
35
Yellow Card Wilshere booked for sliding in late on Iniesta
35
ADRIANO CRASHES THE POST: But I’m not sure he meant to do that. Villa plays in the overlapping left back who, from a very tight angle, thunders Almunia’s left post. I think that was a cross...
34
DJOUROU COMES ACROSS WELL: Messi threatens with a mazy run but Djourou uses his strength to disposes him
33
BARCA STARTING TO TURN THE SCREW: Iniesta slides through Villa whose weak shot gives Almunia a very easy save low to his left
32
MESSI WANTS A FREE KICK: RIGHT on the edge of the area after he is tripped by Diaby. The referee waves play on, I think we’ve had a bit of a let off there.
31
MESIS WEAVING: Inside the area in a dangerous position. Fortunately Clichy is in the right place to clear
30
WENGER FURIOUS: Nasri is blocked off as Arsenal break but the referee gives nothing. Another strange one
29
Yellow Card SILLY: A silly booking for Sagna, he throws the ball away and goes into the book. Very silly
28
CESC GIVES IT AWAY: Barca exchange passes on the edge of the box and Pedro shoots just wide
27
MESSI DOWN: Koscielny is playing a dangerous game. Messi is caught in a Van Persie/Koscielny sandwich and the referee gives a foul
26
ARSENAL’S SHAPE: When Barca have the ball the Gunners are defending with a bank of 5 and then a bank of 4. So far… it’s worked very well
25
WENGER UP: The manager isn’t happy with that one and you can see why. Alves left his foot in there
24
NO FREE KICK?: Alves in hard on Nasri but nothing doing from the referee. Strange
22
CONFIDENT FROM ABIDAL: The defender takes a risk by taking on Nasri inside he own half. But gets away with it
21
PASS, PASS, PASS…: But Arsenal are defending well and Barca aren’t making much ground
20
DIABY TRIES TO FEED NASRI: The Frenchman breaks from midfield but can’t find his team mate with a through ball down the middle
19
WHAT A SHAME: For the youngster. So Almunia is between the posts. The game is back underway
18
Substitution ALMUNIA BEING READIED: And there is going to be an early change here. Almunia is on for Szczesny. Drama here…
17
I’m not sure what has happened there. But this doesn’t look good
16
THE KEEPER IS HURT: Making that save, the Pole has hurt himself
15
SZCZESNY SAVES: From that free kick, Alves has a go and the Pole saves comfortably low down.
14
Yellow Card FIRST BOOKING: And it’s for Koscielny. He brings down Villa 35 yards out and the referee goes to his pocket. He will be treading a fine line for the next 75 minutes.
13
BARCA PRESSURE: Alves crosses into the box to find Villa unmarked, fortunately for Arsenal his touch is poor and the ball runs away from him
12
FIRST SIGN OF MESSI: The little Argentinean latches onto a mistakes from Djourou and runs on-on-one with Koscielny. Expertly the defender stands up, shows him down the line and uses his body to win the ball. Excellent
10
NASRI OFFSIDE: Arsenal enjoy a short spell of possession but Nasri is caught offside, needlessly.
9
ALVES FLAGGED OFFSIDE: Phew! Iniesta dinks a ball over the top and Arsenal are caught square. The Brazilian is offside though, which is lucky because Barca were forward in numbers there
8
GOOD START: A very good start from Arsenal. 8 minutes gone and it’s been even so far
7
ALVES CATCHES CESC: And Arsenal have a free kick deep in their own half. Arsenal are seeing more and more of the ball as the game goes on
6
TEASING BALL FROM ROSICKY: That’s the first sign of Arsenal as an attacking threat. Rosicky breaks down the right but can’t quite find Van Persie in the middle with his low cross
5
WELL DONE JACK: Wilshere gets in hard, but fair, on Xavi to win the ball
4
FIRST SIGN DANGER: Pedro latches onto a through ball and Koscielny has to be quick to get back and make a block
3
TACTICS: Rosicky on the right, Nasri on the left and Cesc through the middle
3
AS WE EXPECTED: Barca have seen an awful lot of the ball early on BUT have hardly ventured into Arsenal’s half. Early stages, but Wenger will be content with this
2
87 seconds: Arsenal enjoy a short spell of possession. But Barca quickly win it back
1
CLICHY IN STRIGHT AWAY: The left back sends Xavi tumbling in the early seconds and Barca win an early free kick
Kick Off PEEP: Barcelona get us underway and Arsenal will kick from right to left in this first half
For Barca, no Pique or Puyol. So Abidal and Busquets start at the back. Will that be a possible weakness? We’re about to find out…
That always sends shivers down my spine. The players shake hands and kick-off is imminent
HERE COME THE PLAYERS: Arsenal, of course, led by Cesc. As I said, all in yellow tonight. And here is that famous Champions League music...
I still can’t believe he squeezed the ball in from there! Reference to Van Persie’s equaliser in the first leg of course.
Just 15 minutes until we get going then. By the way, Arsenal are all in yellow tonight.
In case you haven’t seen it, check out yesterday’s press conference here http://bit.ly/i3vncv. Cesc and the boss faced the media at the Nou Camp. Or, if you’d rather, stay tuned for highlights of the first leg.
A little but of housekeeping, the referee tonight is Massimo Busacca
Anyone else starting to get just a little bit excited about this? No doubt you’ve all been debating who should start, how Arsenal should play and whether we will go through. So let us know your thoughts… www.arsenal.com/studio
Dan and Adrian are giving their views on the Arsenal team news. Dan: “It’s a gamble to play Rosicky tonight”. Do you agree?
Just half an hour to go until kick-off then, and our MatchDay show is now underway.
What are your thoughts ahead of the match Arsenal fans? Just how big is that news that Cesc and Robin are starting?
Former Gunner Adrian Clarke will be alongside commentator Dan Roebuck and they'll be taking your e-mails during the game and fielding your calls in our post-match show. I'll give you those all-important numbers later. In the meantime get your comments to us via www.arsenal.com/studio.
Welcome to Arsenal TV Online for another MatchDay Show. It gets underway at 7:15pm (UK time) with highlights of first-leg victory. By the way, I'm Giuseppe Muro and I'll be your text commentator today.
The Arsenal team in full is: Szczesny, Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy, Diaby, Wilshere, Rosicky, Fabregas, Nasri, Van Persie
The Dutch striker was a late call up to the 19-man travelling party that touched down in Spain on Monday ahead of tonight’s last-16 second leg. Van Persie had been expected to miss the game with the knee injury he picked up in the act of scoring Arsenal’s equaliser in the Carling Cup Final on February 27 but is included in Arsene Wenger’s starting XI.
Wow, what a start to the evening Robin van Persie AND Cesc Fabregas both start tonight.
Arsenal against Barcelona at the Nou Camp - it doesn’t get much bigger than this. Firstly, Robin van Persie STARTS tonight
FC Barcelona
01 VALDéS, Víctor
02 ALVES, Daniel
ADRIANO
MAXWELL (89)
22 ABIDAL, Eric
06 XAVI
08 INIESTA, Andres
10 MESSI, Lionel
16 BUSQUETS, Sergio
17 PEDRO, Rodriguez
14 MASCHERANO, Javier
15 KEITA, Seydou (88)
07 VILLA, David
20 AFELLAY, Ibrahim (81)
13 PINTO, JOSE
22 BOJAN, KRKIC
18 MILITO, GABRIEL
MAXWELL,
20 AFELLAY, IBRAHIM
15 KEITA, SEYDOU
11 THIAGO, ALCANTARA
Arsenal
01 SZCZESNY, Wojciech
01 ALMUNIA, Manuel (18)
03 SAGNA, Bacary
22 CLICHY, Gael
06 KOSCIELNY, Laurent
20 DJOUROU, Johan
02 DIABY, Abou
10 WILSHERE, Jack
08 NASRI, Samir
04 FABREGAS, Cesc
17 BENDTNER, Nicklas (76)
07 ROSICKY, Tomas
23 ARSHAVIN, Andrey (73)
20 VAN PERSIE, Robin
01 ALMUNIA, MANUEL
15 DENILSON,
18 SQUILLACI, SEBASTIEN
23 ARSHAVIN, ANDREY
27 EBOUE, EMMANUEL
29 CHAMAKH, MAROUANE
17 BENDTNER, NICKLAS
