Champions League: Lionel Messi strikes as Barcelona beats Arsenal

    James Masters, CNN

    Updated 1055 GMT (1855 HKT) February 24, 2016

    Barcelona, the defending champion, went up against Arsenal in the first leg of its last 16 Champions League tie in London. Lionel Messi lined up alongside Luis Suarez and Neymar as the visitors went with its attacking trio known as 'MSN'.
    Photos: Champions League: Messi shines as Barcelona beats Arsenal
    Barcelona, the defending champion, went up against Arsenal in the first leg of its last 16 Champions League tie in London. Lionel Messi lined up alongside Luis Suarez and Neymar as the visitors went with its attacking trio known as 'MSN'.
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    Arsenal, second in the English Premier League, started well with Mesut Ozil finding space against the Catalan club.
    Photos: Champions League: Messi shines as Barcelona beats Arsenal
    Arsenal, second in the English Premier League, started well with Mesut Ozil finding space against the Catalan club.
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    Francis Coquelin was given the job of shielding the Arsenal defense against a Barcelona team which has been scoring goals for fun this season.
    Photos: Champions League: Messi shines as Barcelona beats Arsenal
    Francis Coquelin was given the job of shielding the Arsenal defense against a Barcelona team which has been scoring goals for fun this season.
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    Andres Iniesta found himself the center of attention as Arsenal closed down its opponents at every opportunity.
    Photos: Champions League: Messi shines as Barcelona beats Arsenal
    Andres Iniesta found himself the center of attention as Arsenal closed down its opponents at every opportunity.
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    Alexis Sanchez, once of Barcelona, tried to get his side going as an attacking force but was left frustrated. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain wasted Arsenal's best effort in the first half.
    Photos: Champions League: Messi shines as Barcelona beats Arsenal
    Alexis Sanchez, once of Barcelona, tried to get his side going as an attacking force but was left frustrated. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain wasted Arsenal's best effort in the first half.
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    Messi, who was kept quiet in the first half, grew into the game as Barcelona stepped up the pressure after the interval.
    Photos: Champions League: Messi shines as Barcelona beats Arsenal
    Messi, who was kept quiet in the first half, grew into the game as Barcelona stepped up the pressure after the interval.
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    The five-time world player of the year began to find more and more space as Arsenal struggled to contain its opponent.
    Photos: Champions League: Messi shines as Barcelona beats Arsenal
    The five-time world player of the year began to find more and more space as Arsenal struggled to contain its opponent.
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    A rapid counter attack ripped through the Arsenal defense and Messi was on hand to fire home from close range. He added a second from the penalty spot with seven minutes remaining to finish Arsenal off.
    Photos: Champions League: Messi shines as Barcelona beats Arsenal
    A rapid counter attack ripped through the Arsenal defense and Messi was on hand to fire home from close range. He added a second from the penalty spot with seven minutes remaining to finish Arsenal off.
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    MessiOzil BarcelonaRakitic ArsenalIniesta ArsenalAlexis SanchezMessi CoquelinMessi MonrealMessi goal

    Story highlights

    • Barcelona defeats Arsenal 2-0 in Champions League
    • Lionel Messi scores twice
    • Luis Suarez hit post in second half
    • Bayern Munich held 2-2 by Juventus in Turin

    (CNN)For 70 minutes the plan had worked perfectly.

    Barcelona, unbeaten in 32 consecutive games and with the best attacking trio on the planet, had been frustrated at every turn.
      Arsenal, so often guilty of gifting its opponents goals at the last 16 stage of the Champions League in previous years, had defended with all its might.
        It made what must have felt like hundreds of tackles, given everything in its locker and yet within the blink of an eye all of its hard work was undone by that Barcelona brilliance which makes football so wonderful to watch.
        As Arsenal were caught up the field, perhaps seduced by the ridiculous notion it could yet somehow win this tie, Barcelona struck.
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        A rapid counter attack which ripped straight through the heart of the Arsenal defense concluded with Lionel Messi applying the finishing touch.
        The same man then added further gloss from the penalty spot after he had been upended by Mathieu Flamini's clumsy challenge.