Arshavin goal gives Arsenal hope for second leg

Arsenal grabbed a shock 2-1 victory over Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday night thanks to goals from Van Persie and Arshavin. Although Barcelona dominated possession, Arsenal took their chances and came away with a victory, which did not look possible at half time with Barca playing so well. Arsenal fielded their strongest team possible with Eboue coming in for the suspended Bacary Sagna, and the manager taking a risk with Nasri who was back from injury. In the Barcelona side it was the usual lineup but without the captain Puyol who was out with injury, Abidal came in for him in the centre of defence.

The first real chance of the game fell to Arsenal from a free kick. Nasri playing the ball into the box which was flicked on by an Arsenal head but straight into the hands of Valdes in the Barca goal.

Walcott then had his first chance to run at the Barcelona defence and through the heart of the midfield. He eventually played the ball through to Van Persie but the pass was a little too strong and the ball went out of play.

Arsenal were the more livelier side at the moment and they got another good chance through Van Persie. Walcott cutting inside and then finding Fabregas who chipped the ball through to Van Persie but Valdes was there to stop the effort on goal.

Barcelona then had a great chance to go 1-0 up. Villa feeding Messi who ran through on goal and then chipped Szczesny but it went wide.

Once again Walcott had a chance to run into space. He found Fabregas with his pass who crossed the ball over to a certain goal for Van Persie but Abidal got a cruical header in and it remained 0-0.

25 minutes into the game Barcelona took the lead through David Villa. Messi running through the midfield and then playing the ball into Villa who slotted the ball through the keepers legs for 1-0.

Arsenal were not doing much wrong and they got another chance through Van Persie. Wilshere breaking down the field and then playing the ball into Van Persie but who smashed his shot wide.

Barcelona then thought they had a 2 goal lead but it was disallowed as Pedro's shot came off the goalkeeper and then onto the head of Messi but he was offside.

The score at half time was 1-0 to Barcelona.

Wilshere had the first decent chance of the second half as he played a neat one-two with Fabregas before striking a shot which was saved by Valdes.

Van Persie then could have equalised with a shot from just outside the box after Walcott's deflected cross found him but he blazed the shot over the bar.

Then Messi had a good opportunity to put the game to bed when Iniesta slotted the ball into him but he could only find the side netting with his shot.

12 minutes from time Arsenal equalised through Robin Van Persie. Clichy playing the ball to him inside the area and from a tight angle Van Persie beat Valdes at his near post to make it 1-1.

Then 7 minutes from the end of time the Gunners took the lead thanks to Andrey Arshavin. Fabregas playing the ball down the wing to Nasri who then cut the ball back into the path of Arshavin who with a first time shot found the back of the net to make it 2-1.

Barcelona then almost found an equaliser 2 times through Dani Alves but both times the young Arsenal goalkeeper Szczesny got down to make the save.

The final score ended Arsenal 2-1 Barcelona.

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Szczesny, Eboue, Koscielny, Djourou, Clichy, Song(68), Wilshere, Walcott(77), Nasri, Fabregas, Van Persie.
Subs: Almunia, Gibbs, Squillaci, Denilson, Rosicky, Arshavin(68), Bendtner(77).

Barcelona: Valdes, Alves, Pique, Abidal, Maxwell, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta(89), Pedro, Messi, Villa(68).
Subs: Pinto, Milito, Keita(68), Mascherano, Afellay, Adriano(89), Bojan.

My man of the match: Jack Wilshere

Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy)
Attendance: 59,927