Barcelona have booked their spot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Arsenal at Camp Nou on Wednesday.
The Spanish giants entered the second leg of the last-16 tie as the firm favourites to progress following a 2-0 win in London last month and the reigning champions finished the job in front of their own supporters.
Attacking trident – Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi – were all on the scoresheet for Barcelona, who have extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 38 matches.
The first half-chance of the match fell to Arsenal in the second minute, but Welbeck, who had been found by Mesut Ozil, kicked the ball against his own foot from a wide position inside the Barcelona box.
Barcelona’s first clear opportunity came in the 17th minute when Neymar found Messi with a stunning pass, but the Argentine could not beat Ospina from close range, before Jeremy Mathieu headed over from the resulting corner.
Arsenal’s best chance of the first 45 minutes fell to former Barcelona attacker, Alexis Sanchez, five minutes before the break, but the Chilean headed a Hector Bellerin cross wide of the post as the Gunners entered the break 3-0 behind on aggregate.
Arsenal levelled the scores in the 51st minute when Sanchez set up Elneny, who picked out the top corner to open his account for the Gunners in real style.
Barcelona had their second of the night in the 65th minute when Suarez volleyed a Dani Alves cross into the top corner, which all but ended Arsenal’s chances of a comeback.
Welbeck hit the crossbar for the visitors moments after Suarez netted, before Wenger went for broke as he introduced both Giroud and Theo Walcott in a double change.
Sanchez came close to scoring a second for Arsenal 10 minutes from time when he bent an excellent free kick towards the top corner, but Ter Stegen made a super save, before denying Giroud from the rebound.
Messi was not to be denied in the 88th minute, however, as he chipped Ospina from close range to ensure that Barcelona becomes the first team to win back to back Champions Leagues.
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