Ten-man Arsenal succumbed to Barcelona as they were again knocked out of the Champions League by the Catalan outfit. A Cesc Fabregas mistake allowed Lionel Messi to chip a ball over keeper Manuel Almunia and slot in for Barcelona. Arsenal levelled through a Sergio Busquets own goal before the visitors had Robin van Perise harshly sent off. Barcelona took full advantage as a brilliant move led to Xavi slotting in before Laurent Koscielny's foul on Pedro let Messi score from the spot. Arsenal had their Champions League dreams shattered at the Camp Nou last season when a Messi-inspired Barcelona came from a goal down to win their quarter-final 4-1 and 6-3 on aggregate. The Gunners' return this time around was a test of whether they had progressed and developed enough to show the steel and substance to beat the Spaniards. Ultimately, they fell short again and, although the Gunners will have cause for complaint with the dismissal of Van Persie for a second yellow card, they were given another footballing lesson by the Catalans. Van Persie and Fabregas had missed the defeat at the Camp Nou last season and, although they started this time around, the result was the same as the pair played pivotal roles in Arsenal's downfall. The Gunners had been forced to swap their artistry for attrition as Barcelona quickly set the tone of the game by dominating possession while passing and probing for an opening. Barcelona's work-rate in winning the ball back helped keep up their relentless pressure as Arsenal could not produce the crisp and controlled passing required to provide some relief. The saving grace for the Gunners was that they were defending with they type of discipline and determination which was initially limiting their opponents to fleeting chances. Over-lapping Barcelona left-back Adriano hit the outside of the bar with an acute-angled shot before a weaving Messi run ended in him shooting straight at keeper Almunia. Half-time beckoned when Fabregas, who had described the Camp Nou as "mythical" in the build up, attempted a back-heel to Jack Wilshere 30 yards out only to give the ball away to Iniesta. The Barcelona midfielder accepted the gift and dinked a ball through to Messi, who brilliantly lofted the ball over the on-rushing Almunia before smacking in a shot. It was a bodyblow for the Gunners and, despite being given a route back into the game when a Samir Nasri corner was headed into his own net by Busquets after the break, the visitors quickly suffered another setback. Van Persie, who had been booked for an earlier foul on Dani Alves, was dismissed for a second booking after kicking the ball away after the whistle had been blown. It did not take the Catalan club long to take advantage of their numercial advantage as Iniesta produced a wriggling run before finding Villa and his first time pass released Xavi, who slotted in. Koscielny felled Pedro to concede a spot-kick, which Messi expertly converted, as Arsenal were on the brink of a capitulation. It was only the heroics of Almunia which kept the score down as he denied Ibrahim Afellay and Messi, while Daniel Alves missed a gilt-edged chance. Arsenal substitute Nicklas Bendtner could have punished Barcelona by getting a goal which would have seen his side win on away goals. But, when found by a late Wilshere cross, like his team, the striker did not have the quality needed as his control let him down. Source: BBC