LONDON - ARSENAL gave themselves a fighting chance of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals here on Wednesday, coming from behind to stun favourites Barcelona 2-1 in a pulsating encounter.
Two goals in the final 12 minutes from Robin van Persie and substitute Andrey Arshavin clinched a dramatic victory for the English Premier League side after Barcelona had taken the lead through a first-half David Villa strike.
The result means Arsenal - thrashed 6-3 on aggregate by Barcelona in last year's quarter-finals - will carry a narrow lead into Camp Nou when the two sides meet in the second leg on March 8.
'It was one of the special nights because I feel we needed to be a special team,' said Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.'It's open. We will go (to Camp Nou) and play our game again because you cannot just defend against this team. Our confidence will grow.'
Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola said his team had been caught out by the speed of Arsenal's counter-attacking. 'It was a fantastic game (with) many, many chances for both teams,' Guardiola said.
'We created more chances than last year. It's a pity, but we knew they're a very, very good team. On the counter-attack they're dangerous. But we have the second leg.' -- AFP
Source : http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Sport/Story/STIStory_635803.html
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