Barca star trio outgun Arsenal to reach quarters
BARCELONA: Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were all on target as Barcelona piled more pressure on under-fire Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger by easing into the Champions League quarter-finals 5-1 on aggregate with a 3-1 win at the Camp Nou on Wednesday.
Neymar’s early strike appeared to erase any forlorn hopes of an Arsenal comeback, but the visitors were handed a lifeline when Mohamed Elneny drilled into the top corner just after half-time.
Suarez put the tie beyond Wenger’s men in emphatic fashion with a stunning volley 25 minutes from time before Messi’s cheeky chipped finish rounded off the scoring late on.
“I don’t know with what I hit the ball, but the most important thing is it went in,” said Suarez.
“It was the moment in which they were attacking us. After they scored they grew in confidence, but we got back in front and back in control of the game.”
A ninth consecutive victory stretches Barca’s unbeaten run in all competitions to 38 games and seals their place in Friday’s quarter-final draw for the ninth consecutive season.
By contrast, one win in eight games has decimated Arsenal’s hopes of silverware this season as they exit the competition at the last 16 stage for the sixth consecutive season days after relinquishing their two-year hold on the FA Cup.
“I have to say we played against a team with the best strikers I’ve seen,” said Wenger.
“The three are exceptional and from nothing they can create a chance.
“We have to admire art and they have two or three players that transform normal life into art.”
After a bright start from Arsenal, Barca’s front three soon came to life and David Ospina made a brilliant save from Messi after the Argentine had perfectly controlled Neymar’s floated pass over the Arsenal defence.
Jeremy Mathieu headed over a gilt-edged chance from the resulting corner.
Neymar wasn’t so forgiving moments later when he was played in by Suarez and coolly slotted past Ospina for his 26th goal of the season.
Yet, Arsenal should have been at least level by the break as Barca struggled to handle the visitors pace on the break without the suspended Gerard Pique. - AFP