Arsenal left it late with the introduction of Theo Walcott to keep their hopes of progression in the Champions League alive after coming from 2-0 down.

Barcelona had much the better of play but wasted chances to bury Arsenal and put the tie to bed well before the return at the Camp Nou, and it was the introduction of the pacy youngster Walcott which inspired the come back.

Despite their domination and wonderful football, somehow Barcelona contrived to go in at the break goalless as Arsenal and particularly Manuel Almunia were forced to soak up intense Basque pressure.

However it wasn’t long into the second half before Barca got the breakthrough they deserved. Almunia’s goal kick was charged down by Zlatan Ibrahimovic who duly finished to give the away side the lead, and it wasn’t long before one became two with Ibrahimovic’s second of the evening.

Xavi supplied the perfect pass for the Swedish international to leave the Arsenal defence flat-footed, giving him plenty of time to pick his spot and drive a powerful shot into the roof of the net as the helpless Almunia advanced.

However for all their dominance, Arsenal stung fast and they stung hard first through Walcott with his first real impact on game having replaced Bacary Sagna. The diminutive English winger raced clear and bearing down on the Barca goal forced his shot under the advancing Victor Valdes.

And the comeback was complete and the tie kept alive when a ball into the box was met by Bendtner’s head, guiding it to Fabregas who took a moment to compose himself with the goal at his mercy when he was clumsily challenged by Puyol. Controversially, the referee pointed to the spot and red-carded Puyol, and the Arsenal captain stepped up with his last contribution before going off injured to drill the ball home down the centre of the goal.

Arsenal 2 – 2 Barcelona

Attendance: 59,572
Referee: Busacca

Inter Dominate But Tie Lies In Balance

Inter will take a slender lead into the second leg after eventually overcoming CSKA at the San Siro, however they may yet rue the missed chances their dominance deserved.

Diego Milito gave Inter the lead and the win on the night from 18 yards into the corner of the net after both Samuel Eto’o and Goran Pandev had tested Akinfeev in the Moscow goal.

But they missed several chances throughout the game in which CSKA Moscow did well to frustrate their Italian hosts however offered little going forward, something they will need to remedy at the home tie at Luzhniki Stadium next week.

Late chances fell to Pandev, Eto’o and Wesley Sneijder in space on the left hand side but somehow contrived to drag his shot wide of the post, before in the dieing minutes Cambiasso fired towards goal to be blocked by Akinfeev who got up to block the rebound shot from Stankovic by palming over the post.

Inter Milan 1 – 0 CSKA Moscow

Attendance: 64,500
Referee: Howard Webb

Jon Osterland