Messi start for Gunners

When you are playing arguably the best team in the world what more could we really have expected?

With home advantage maybe a narrow win by one goal at best but, in truth, Barcelona were always going to score and the 2-0 defeat in the first leg of our round 16 tie wasn't really a surprise when a Lionel Messi double gave them the victory.

As much as I would love to see us progress past Barcelona and into the quarter finals the priority for this season really must be to win the league and we still have a chance of doing that.

I think we performed better than expected against the Champions League holders and kept them, and Messi, quiet for over an hour. The back four stood up well to the task up to that point and then boom, before you could blink it was 1-0. Yes, Barcelona really are that good and we knew the slightest mistake or failing to take our chances could prove costly.

Arsenal started the game well and showed no fear in early stages as Aaron Ramsey saw a shot blocked before Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen denied Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The Ox really should have done way better with his opportunity, which he hit straight at the goalkeeper, because you need to make the most of any little chance you get against a team of this world class calibre.

Although we weren't posing too much danger in attack, the discipline shown in the first half to shut Barcelona out was superb and we restricted them to very few chances. This was impressive but in the end counted for nothing as we still lost big ground in the tie.

Arsenal's hard work in the first half was almost undone just before half-time but fortunately Luis Suarez glanced a header wide when it looked easier to score.

At that point I was proud of the Gunners. To be goalless at half-time, instead of down by several goals, actually gave me a glimmer of hope, although this later diminished.

Petr Cech once again underlined his importance to Arsene Wenger's men as he made a key save to deny Neymar within four minutes of the restart. The Brazilian latched onto Andres Iniesta's pass but Cech reacted excellently to keep out the forward's shot with his legs.

Although I don't think it would have stopped Barcelona winning there was a big moment after 55 minutes that left me rather frustrated. Jordi Alba went to ground following a challenge from Olivier Giroud before bouncing back up and putting his head into the striker's face. Okay, it wasn't a headbutt as such but it was still wrong of the defender and somehow he didn't even get booked for it when, on another day, he could have seen red. It was still 0-0 at that point and we can't really use it as an excuse. In fact, we almost took the lead soon after when Giroud's header was excellently kept out by Ter Stegen. A wasted chance but, credit to the goalkeeper, it was a very good save.

Barcelona are a top class side and can change things in the blink of an eye and they almost did, only for a fine block from Per Mertesacker to deny Messi in the box.

Arsenal should have done far better with their next chance as Giroud found himself in space in the box. Instead of opting to shoot he tried to give it to Walcott, who had unfortunately run the other way. A poor mix up and Giroud really should have made more of his opportunity in front of goal, especially against a side you know you are not going to get too many chances against.

Barcelona finally broke the Gunners' resistance when Messi scored his first goal of the night 19 minutes from time. Suarez found Messi in the box and the Argentina international made no mistake from close range. Arsenal didn't really deserve to be behind but Barcelona were always going to pose a big threat and it is our own fault we didn't make more of our chances. It nearly got worse soon after but luckily Suarez's effort hit a post.

Arsenal still wouldn't give up and Ramsey forced a save out of Ter Stegen as the hosts went looking for a way back into the game. That miss proved costly as the game's decisive moment came seven minutes from time. I'm not even sure why we decided to bring Mathieu Flamini on. We all know what he can be like with his challenges and we were still very much in the tie with the score only 1-0. But we did bring him on, he made a clumsy challenge, conceded a penalty, Messi scored, and that was that as the first leg finished 2-0 in Barcelona's favour.

THE SECOND LEG
Every year we seem to have a blip in the first leg. Regardless of what the performance is like we fail to win the first leg and then we come very close to turning it around in the second, but don't quite pull it off. I think it could be a similar situation again or worse.

If we can nick an early goal in the second leg we may, just may, have a chance but it's a huge if. I don't think we will beat Barcelona on their own turf and, even if we did manage two goals, I can't see them not scoring. We need to pray for a footballing miracle!

I won't give up hope until the second leg ends and in football anything can happen but even me, who is often among the most optimistic of Gunners' fans, can't see us doing it.

There would be no shame in going out to the world's best but it would also be very frustrating.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS
Our Champions League dream is nearly over but we must make sure we take the positives from the game and go to Manchester United with the right attitude.

The league title is still a realistic aim and we need to make sure we don't muck it up and that means we must beat Manchester United. Away from home it is going to be tough, especially as they have a habit of being a bogie side for us, but if we are serious about winning the Premier League this is a game we must win.

Let's go make sure we repeat the performance from the home game against Manchester United earlier in the season. We need to prove we mean business and not let the season fade away from us.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS