Barcelona beat Arsenal as the MSN trio sparkle

Barcelona’s dynamic attacking trio of Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi were too strong for Arsenal as all three scored in a 3-1 victory on Wednesday (March 16) that sent the Spanish side into the Champions League quarter-finals 5-1 on aggregate.

Brazil’s Neymar opened the scoring in the first half as the home side dominated the early play, but Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny curled in an excellent finish to spark life into the visitors after the break.

Suarez, however, launched himself into the air to meet a Dani Alves cross and send a superb volley into the top corner to deflate the English side, who have now been knocked out of the tournament in the last 16 for six successive seasons.

The mercurial Messi rounded off the scoring with a trademark chipped finish two minutes from time as the defending champions extended their record-breaking unbeaten run to 38 matches in all competitions.

The La Liga leaders remained on course for a second successive treble and their coach is not concerned about who they face in the last eight of Europe’s most prestigious club competition.

Instead of being overly upset with his side’s exit, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger felt moved to praise Barcelona, and Messi in particular, for their performance.

“We couldn’t take the chances we created but I must say as well that Barcelona, going forward in the final third, the accuracy of their passing, the quality of their creativity, especially (Lionel) Messi, is absolutely exceptional. You go through 90 minutes and you come out of a game – he didn’t miss one first touch. No matter where the ball comes from,” said the Frenchman after the match

The defeat will increase the pressure on the Arsenal boss, whose side are 11 points adrift of leaders Leicester City in the Premier League and exited the FA Cup last weekend.

Barcelona, meanwhile, remain on course for a second successive treble.