Live Commentary: Arsenal 0-2 Barcelona - as it happened

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Arsenal 0-2 Barcelona - as it happened
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Arsenal welcomed Barcelona to the Emirates for the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie on Tuesday night.

Both teams had chances in an open first 45 minutes, but there was only one attempt on target. It came for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but the Arsenal midfielder could not convert from close range.

Barcelona finally made the breakthrough in the 71st minute, however, when Neymar set up Lionel Messi, who fired into the back of the net from close range.

The visitors then had their second in the 83rd minute when Messi netted from the penalty spot after being fouled by Mathieu Flamini inside the box.

Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.

9.37pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Barcelona running out 2-0 winners courtesy of a brace from Messi. It was a brave effort from Arsenal, but they were ultimately beaten by the best team in the world. Thanks for joining Sports Mole the action. Until next time!

90 min+4FULL-TIME: Arsenal 0-2 Barcelona

90 min+3Empty seats inside the Emirates as we approach the full-time whistle here.

90 min+1SAVE! Neymar attempts to head home at the far post, but Cech makes the stop!

90 min+1We are into the first of three additional minutes tonight.

90 minBarcelona have just dropped back in the last few minutes and that is inviting Arsenal forward. The Gunners are struggling to find a route through, however, as we approach stoppage time.

88 minNot an awful lot to report since the penalty - Arsenal do not have a lot left in their legs here.

85 minBOOKING! Pique (Barcelona) is booked for bringing Welbeck to the deck.

84 minSuper penalty from Messi as the Argentine finds the corner to make it 2-0 Barcelona!

83 minGOAL! Arsenal 0-2 Barcelona (Messi, pen)

83 minBarcelona have a penalty as Flamini brings Messi to the ground inside the box!

83 minPENALTY BARCELONA!

82 minARSENAL SUB! Flamini replaces Coquelin for the home side.

79 minCHANCE! Chance for Arsenal this time as Welbeck nods the ball down to Ramsey inside the Barcelona box, but Ter Stegen just does enough. End-to-end football at the moment!

78 minPOST! Barcelona have to score a second as Messi slides the ball into Suarez after Neymar had one blocked, but the striker hits the post from close range! Should have scored!

77 minPass, pass, pass from Barcelona as they dominate possession of the ball at the Emirates.

75 minArsenal need to be very careful that they do not concede another goal in the final stages of this match. This result is not a disaster, but 2-0 Barcelona would make it very tough in the return.

73 minARSENAL SUB! Welbeck replaces Giroud for the home team.

72 minBreakthrough! Barcelona take the lead in the 71st minute as Suarez plays in Neymar, who squares for Messi and the Argentine takes one touch before firing into the back of the net! Super goal!

71 minGOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Barcelona (Messi)

71 minStill no movement on the Barcelona bench, which is a surprise at this stage of the match. Arsenal, however, are preparing another change as Danny Welbeck receives his final instructions.

69 minBOOKING! Alba (Barcelona) is booked for a late challenge on Ozil.

69 minA mistake from Barcelona's back four sees the ball drop to Giroud, but the striker goes the wrong way and Arsenal pass up a big chance to create something. Still we wait for the first goal here!

66 minCLOSE! Suarez drills a low strike just wide of the far post moments after Mertesacker had blocked a strike from Messi. The chances are starting to arrive now!

66 minSanchez and Ramsey both strike the ball inside the Barcelona box, but the visitors get bodies in the way and manage to clear their lines. Little under 25 minutes of this first leg remaining tonight.

64 minArsenal continue to defend their lines under pressure from Barcelona and you just get the feeling that there might be something in this match for the English team on the counter-attack.

62 minStrong defending from Arsenal as they twice block Messi in a wide position. The pressure continues to grow as Barcelona get their big players in the match, but we are still level at 0-0 tonight.

60 minSAVE! Ozil picks out the head of Giroud with a super cross, but his effort is saved by Ter Stegen - moments after Giroud had failed to meet a low cross from the left!

59 minArsenal are working very hard to close the space at the moment, but they are not really threatening the Barcelona goal, which is bringing frustration in the stands. Barcelona look the most likely here.

57 minLittle over 30 minutes of this first leg remaining and 0-0 is the very unlikely scoreline here!

55 minMessi slides a pass into Neymar and the Brazilian attempts to return the favour, but Mertesacker is on hand to clear at the vital moment. Barcelona are starting to move the ball quicker now.

54 minWalcott has been pretty lively for Arsenal since entering the field, but the Englishman has not really been found by a teammate despite taking up some good positions. Barcelona remain in control of the possession and you get the feeling that opportunities will start to arrive in this second period.

52 minNot an awful lot for the home supporters to get excited about at the moment as Barcelona continue to dominate possession and look dangerous in the final third. Iniesta decides to have a go from distance, but his effort is blocked and Cech can clear. It will come straight back though!

50 minARSENAL SUB! Oxlade-Chamberlain limps off to be replaced by Walcott.

49 minSAVE! Neymar goes through one-on-one with Cech, but the Arsenal goalkeeper is on hand to make a fine save. That is a big moment as Barcelona continue to dominate the ball here!

49 minPossession football from Barcelona as they pass and probe in the Arsenal half of the field. It appears that Arsenal are preparing to make a change - Theo Walcott is getting ready to enter.

47 min... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period develops at the Emirates.

46 minRESTART! Here we go then - both sets of players re-join us on the pitch for the second period. Will we have a breakthrough at the Emirates? Stay tuned as Barcelona resume the action in London...

8.45pm

8.43pmBENCH WATCH! Arsenal have a number of attacking options on their bench tonight, with the likes of Joel Campbell, Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck all capable of making a difference. Barcelona, meanwhile, have the likes of Munir El-Haddadi, Aleix Vidal and Sergi Roberto in reserve.

8.38pmSTATS! Barcelona have dominated the possession with 71%, but they did not hit the target with any of their four attempts. Arsenal, meanwhile, whose best chance fell to Oxlade-Chamberlain, have also had four attempts. Just the one yellow card to report - Monreal in the book for the home side early on.

8.33pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 0-0. Arsenal can be very pleased with their performance in the opening 45 and they have come close on a couple of occasions. Barcelona struggled to carve out openings for long spells, but had two excellent chances in the latter stages of the half - both fell to Suarez, but the striker could not register!

45 min+2HALF-TIME: Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona

45 min+2CHANCE! Another wonderful chance for Barcelona as Busquets picks out Alves, who delivers onto the head of Suarez, but the striker's effort is wide of the post. What a miss!

45 min+1CHANCE! Neymar, Suarez and Messi finally all combine and it appears that Suarez will fire home from close range, but instead he sets the ball back towards Messi and Arsenal manage to clear. That is the first time that the main three have been able to find some serious space tonight.

44 minWell, the end of the first period is moments away and Arsenal will be very pleased with their performance in the first 44 minutes tonight. I am not sure if Oxlade-Chamberlain will return for the second half, however, as he continues to struggle following that coming-together with Mascherano.

41 minSuper feet from Neymar as the Brazilian drives inside before finding Rakitic, who sets the ball back to Messi, but the Argentine's effort is deflected wide of the post for a Barcelona corner.

40 minBarcelona pass and probe outside the Arsenal box, but they are struggling to find that elusive ball at the moment and credit must be given to the hosts for their defensive work in this first period.

38 minMascherano and Oxlade-Chamberlain both go down and stay there, but the pair are up now.

37 minArsenal break away and have a three-on-three situation in the final third, but Oxlade-Chamberlain takes a heavy touch and Mascherano is on hand to make a wonderful last-ditch challenge.

36 min... Messi takes the set piece, but his effort is straight into the wall!

35 minBarcelona have a free kick in a very dangerous are as Koscielny fells Messi...

33 minSuarez and Neymar manage to combine just outside the Arsenal box and the former bundles his way past Mertesacker, but his final touch is too strong and the home side restart with a goal kick.

32 minHalf-chance for Barcelona as Neymar sets a beautiful cross towards the far post - Messi makes contract, but his header was always over the crossbar. Arsenal will be happy with crosses!

31 minScrappy period of the match at the moment as the referee whistles for a series of free kicks.

29 minThe referee has had a busy few minutes and upsets the home supporters for penalising Sanchez for a late challenge on Alves in a dangerous position. Still goalless, but this one is starting to bubble.

27 minArsenal are causing Barcelona some problems on the counter-attack here, with Sanchez extremely lively against his former club. The hosts look to break away once again, but Busquets fouls his former teammate. It has been a very encouraging opening 27 minutes for the Premier League side.

25 minArsenal again break down-field and Sanchez feeds the ball into Ozil, but the German's low cross is cleared by Pique. The home supporters are growing in confidence as their team threaten again.

22 minCHANCES! Two wonderful chances for Arsenal! First Bellerin has a strike blocked inside the Barcelona box - it falls for Oxlade-Chamberlain, but his effort is straight at Ter Stegen! Sanchez and Ozil were also both involved in the football that led to Bellerin striking towards goal.

21 minArsenal started well tonight, but they are just struggling to keep hold of the ball at the moment and decisions seem to be going Barcelona's way when challenges are made. Despite all the possession for the visitors, Cech has not yet been troubled in the Arsenal goal with 21 minutes on the clock here.

18 minComfortable for Cech as the Arsenal goalkeeper collects a cross from Alves, having picked up one from Iniesta down the right moments before. Barcelona are dominating possession of the ball now.

16 minWe are still waiting for the first real chance of this match, with Ramsey's strike, which was blocked by Mascherano, the closest that either team have come to opening the scoring. Barcelona are growing in terms of ball possession, but we have seen little from their front three thus far tonight.

14 minBusquets slips a super pass into Rakitic and the Croatian has a strike deflected wide of the post.

12 minOxlade-Chamberlain is the target for a long pass from Ramsey, but the ball runs away from the England international and Barcelona can restart with a goal kick. Moments later, Sanchez does well to take control of a snappy pass in the middle of the park, but Rakitic fouls the Chilean international.

10 minI suspect that Arsenal boss Wenger will be pleased with his team's start to this match. Barcelona have been restricted to little in the final third, while the hosts have looked dangerous on the counter. You just get the feeling that the first goal tonight - if there indeed is one - could be vital.

8 minCHANCE! Ozil finds space inside the Barcelona box before setting the ball back to Ramsey, but his effort is blocked by Mascherano. Barcelona did not look comfortable at the back there!

8 minIt has been a pretty even opening eight minutes to this match, with both sides enjoying possession of the ball without really threatening. Nothing to report in terms of chances thus far tonight.

6 minBOOKING! Monreal (Arsenal) is booked for a late challenge on Rakitic.

5 minPossession football from the away side in the last couple of minutes as they attempt to settle into the match. A deep cross from Suarez looks to be heading for Messi, but Mertesacker heads down-field.

3 minRamsey is penalised for bringing Neymar to the deck after the Brazilian had put the burners on. The resulting free kick from Messi is met by Alves, but the Brazilian was just holding an offside position.

2 min... the stage is set, conditions are perfect. It is a massive test for Arsenal, who have actually started quite well. A long ball is played into Giroud, who attempts to knock it down to Sanchez, but Alba is on hand to clear the danger. That little piece of play has further increased the noise inside the ground.

0 minKICKOFF! The pre-match handshakes have been undertaken and the flags have been exchanged. The time for talking is over. Can Arsenal do the unthinkable and stop this Barcelona machine? It promises to be a fascinating night and it is the home side that get the first 45 minutes underway here...

7.42pmRight, a final reminder of the two teams for tonight... ARSENAL: Cech; Bellerin, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal; Coquelin, Ramsey; Ox, Ozil, Sanchez; Giroud BARCA: Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Rakitic, Iniesta, Busquets; Neymar, Suarez, Messi

7.38pmPREDICTION! To be brutally honest, I am really struggling to make a case for Arsenal tonight. I think that the Gunners have a goal in them, but I am very worried about their back four against Barcelona's sensational front three. I am backing a comfortable 3-1 away win in this last-16 first leg.

7.35pmWith kickoff just around the corner, I must mention the 'MSN'. It is difficult to put into words just how good Messi, Suarez and Neymar have been over the last 12 months, so instead I will just post their numbers from this season. Messi, despite spending time on the sidelines this term, has 27 goals in 31 games this season, Suarez 41 in 37, while Neymar has 23 goals in 32 matches. Over to you Arsenal!
© AFP

7.32pmBarcelona have also won in England in the last-16 stage of the Champions League in each of the last two seasons. Both of those victories (2-0, 2-1) were at Manchester City, but their overall away record to English opposition is won eight, drawn eight and lost 14. They also beat Manchester United 2-0 and 3-1 respectively in the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals.

7.29pmIn terms of Barcelona's progress to this stage, they qualified as Group E winners after collecting 14 points from their six matches in the section. They did drop points in two of their three away matches, but were one of only two teams to go through the group stage unbeaten. As touched upon, the Catalan side are also going very well in La Liga, with a 2-1 win at Las Palmas on Saturday seeing them move eight points clear of second-place Atletico and nine clear of Real Madrid in the table.

7.26pmBarcelona are in the knockout stage of this competition for the 12th consecutive season and they have made at least the semi-finals in seven of their last eight campaigns. The only exception was in the 2013-14 season, when they were knocked out in the quarters by Spanish rivals Atletico Madrid. What's more, Barcelona have won 15 of their 19 Champions League matches since last season.

7.23pmIncredibly, Barcelona have won the Champions League in four of the last 10 seasons and they are attempting to become the first team since AC Milan in 1989 and 1990 to win back-to-back European Cups. It is a tough task, but who would bet against this Barcelona team? In truth, it is very difficult to look past them once again and Arsenal have a serious, serious task on their hands tonight.
© Getty Images

7.20pmAs for Barcelona, Enrique's team will enter this match on the back of a 32-game unbeaten run in all competitions, which stretches back to the start of October, when they lost at Sevilla in the league. That excellent run of form has seen them open up an eight-point lead at the top of La Liga, make the Copa del Rey final, win the 2015 Club World Cup and reach this stage of the European Cup.

7.17pmArsenal will enter this match off the back of a 0-0 draw with Hull City in the fifth round of the FA Cup at the weekend – hardly ideal preparation. That said, the London club are currently on a five-game unbeaten run and a 2-1 victory over Premier League leaders Leicester City on February 14 moved them to within two points of the top of the table. At this stage, Wenger's side are fighting for three trophies and a league and FA Cup double would go down as a very successful campaign.
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7.14pmIt would be fair to say that Barcelona are the team that everyone wanted to avoid in the last-16 draw. That said, the Gunners actually have a pretty strong home record against La Liga opposition – winning eight of their 13 matches and only losing twice to Spanish opposition in England. They have also won five of their previous eight two-legged affairs with Spanish clubs in UEFA competition.

7.11pmIn terms of their progression this season, Wenger's side managed to finish second in Group F behind Bayern Munich, despite losing three of their six group matches. They lost three of their first four matches in the section, but advanced courtesy of a 3-0 victory at Olympiacos on matchday six, which gave them a superior head-to-head record over the Greek team. Indeed, the revival also included an impressive 2-0 victory over Bayern in this stadium. It was hard work, but they ultimately did enough.
© Getty Images

7.08pmAlongside Real Madrid, Arsenal are actually one of only two teams to have reached the knockout stage of the Champions League every season since the new format formed in 2003-04. Progressing beyond this stage has been a real problem, however, and they have lost the first leg at home in each of their last three round of 16 ties – twice against Bayern Munich and also against AS Monaco last season.

7.05pmSo there we have it. The two teams are in and we are now little over 40 minutes from kickoff on this mild evening in London. I shall talk about the mighty Barcelona a little bit later, but let's start with the home side Arsenal, who are bidding to reach the quarter-finals of this competition for the first time since 2010 having fallen at this exact stage of the tournament in each of the last five seasons.

7.02pmAs for Barcelona, it is the XI that was expected to start tonight. Arda Turan misses out on a spot in the squad through suspension, meaning that Ivan Rakitic starts in midfield alongside Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta. Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi, of course, all start in the final third, while it is German international Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal ahead of first-choice La Liga goalkeeper Claudio Bravo. Former Arsenal centre-back Thomas Vermaelen is on the bench for the visitors.

6.58pmArsenal boss Wenger has made a big call in the final third tonight – selecting Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain over fellow Englishman Theo Walcott. Defensive midfielder Francis Coquelin is selected in the middle of the park alongside Aaron Ramsey, while Olivier Giroud will lead the line. It will also be a special night for a certain Alexis Sanchez, who plays against the club that he represented between 2011 and 2014, scoring 47 times. Per Mertesacker skippers the team from central defence.
© Getty Images

6.55pmTEAMS: ARSENAL: Cech; Bellerin, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal; Coquelin, Ramsey; Ox, Ozil, Sanchez; Giroud BARCA: Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Rakitic, Iniesta, Busquets; Neymar, Suarez, Messi

6.52pmRight, before we go any further, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from London. Who have Arsene Wenger and Luis Enrique placed their faith in tonight? Let's find out...

6.49pmH2H! Barcelona have also come out on top in each of their three previous two-legged affairs with Arsenal. The last time that the two sides met in the Champions League was during the 2010-11 season, when the Gunners lost 4-3 on aggregate. That said, the English club did record a 2-1 victory in the home leg of that tie and will be looking to pick up a similar result tonight. In truth, Arsenal just cannot afford to suffer defeat in this match and expect to advance from the second leg at Camp Nou next month.
© Getty Images

6.46pmEvening all! Sports Mole's live Champions League coverage continues from London as Premier League side Arsenal welcome Spanish champions Barcelona for the first leg of their last-16 tie. The visitors will enter the match on the back of an incredible 32-game unbeaten run in all competitions, which is an indication of the size of the task facing Arsene Wenger's team tonight! It should be a cracking match!
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