Arsenal stun Barcelona

LONDON.
Arsenal struck twice in five minutes late in the match to snatch an unlikely 2-1 win over Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash at The Emirates last night.
Barcelona dominated possession with wonderful passing, working tirelessly to harass the home side in their short spells on the ball, and deservedly led through a David Villa goal after 26 minutes.
They could have had three or four more but Arsenal levelled out of the blue through Robin van Persie in the 78th minute.
That would have been kind on Arsenal, beaten 6-3 on aggregate by the Spaniards in last season’s quarter-finals, but they got a huge bonus seven minutes from time when substitute Andrei Arshavin swept in the second after a superb counter-attack.
Arsenal actually started well and it needed a good save by Victor Valdes to block a Robin van Persie shot after five minutes after a clever flick by Cesc Fabregas.
But it was a false dawn as the visitors quickly settled into their well-worn rhythm, moving Arsenal this way and that before slicing them open repeatedly with practically identical passes between the centre backs.
Messi ran on to the first from Villa after 15 minutes but though the striker’s dummy took Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny out of the equation his subsequent dinked finish rolled inches wide.
The goal came when Messi returned the compliment and Villa, in acres of space, tucked the ball away with the minimum of fuss.
It could have been more as, just as in last season’s first half for the first leg of the quarter-final, Arsenal were chasing shadows with the Spaniards enjoying 61 percent of possession in the first half. Xavi alone made 57 passes with an 86 percent completion rate.
When Arsenal did begin to see some of the ball after the break Barca gave them another lesson, this time in the art of closing down, as they showed that like all great teams they know how to work hard and defend when they have to.
The game seemed to be heading only one way until the ball broke to Van Persie wide on the left with little apparent danger but, from a tight angle he lashed a shot goalwards and it sneaked inside the near post of a flat-footed Valdes.
The goal lifted the crowd and Arsenal responded with a Barca-style counter-attack that ended with Samir Nasri squaring for substitute Arshavin to sweep in the winner
The second leg at the Nou Camp Stadium is on March 8.
Meanwhile, knockout round debutants Shakhtar Donetsk delivered an upset 3-2 win at an out-of-form AS Roma in yesterday’s Champions League last-16 first leg, putting home coach Claudio Ranieri under increased pressure.
Roma took the lead in the 28th minute when midfielder Simone Perrotta headed in a cross from Rodrigo Taddei off Razvan Rat, but fans had little time to savour the goal as Shakhtar equalised a minute later through Jadson’s fortunate deflection.
The Ukranians, who looked fresh despite not having played a competitive match in more than two months, then seized control of the match with a lovely curling shot from just outside the area by Douglas Costa on 36 minutes.
Luiz Adriano slotted in the visitors’ third before halftime, capitalising on a slip-up by Roma defender John Arne Riise that summed up their frustrating evening, before Jeremy Menez superbly netted for the hosts after the break.
Roma players walked off at halftime to loud boos from an angry crowd at the Stadio Olimpico and the defeat piles pressure on coach Ranieri, whose future as manager is in doubt as the club readies itself for a sale.
Last season’s Italian runners-up are in eighth spot after three games without a win in Serie A and fans have even protested during training.
Champions League Round Up
At Emirates Stadium, London
Scorers:
Arsenal: Robin van Persie 78, Andrei Arshavin 83
Barcelona: David Villa 26
Halftime: 0-1
Teams:
Arsenal
Wojciech Szczesny,Emmanuel Eboue, Johan Djourou, Laurent Koscielny, Gael Clichy, Theo Walcott (Nicklas Bendtner 77), Cesc Fabregas, Alex Song (Andrei Arshavin 68), Jack Wilshere, Samir Nasri, Robin van Persie.
Barcelona
Victor Valdes, Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Eric Abidal, Maxwell, Xavi, Sergio Busquets, Andres, Iniesta (Adriano 89), Pedro, Lionel Messi, David Villa (Seydou Keita 68). – Reuters.