Barca scored two and could have scored many more and Arsenal knew it on Tuesday night in the UEFA Champions League encounter.

Lionel Messi scored his first two goals against Petr Cech, showing just why he is the number one player on the planet.

It wasn't a total Barca dominance, with Arsenal starting the brighter of the first two team in opening 30 minutes.

The Catalans didn't really threaten their opponents goal before half-time, yet Arsenal for all their dominance didn't really make full use of their chances.

A packed Emirates was buzzing as Arsenal’s adoring fans urged them to get the first goal quickly.

The best moment fell to Oxlade-Chamberlain, who had to apply a simple finish, yet couldn't get the ball out of his feet quickly enough to muster good shot.

The second half was all about Barca, as they were literally toying with the British side.

Luis Enrique’s side settled into their rhythm, and from them on the result was inevitable.

Neymar raced through on a rapid counter-attack and could have finished himself, yet chose to centre the ball for Messi who stroked the ball home past Cech on the 73rd minute.

Messi, who had scored only two goals on English soil prior to this game, got another opportunity to better his record when he stepped up to take a penalty.

Mathieu Flamini came on in the 83rd minute and almost immediately hacked down Messi in the Arsenal box.

The Argentine ace stepped up and sent Cech the wrong way with a low finish in the left corner.

Arsenal have a tendency to make things difficult for themselves by losing the first leg without much of a fight, only to come back roaring in the second leg. But it has always been a case of too little, too late.

While mathematically there is still a chance, Arsenal know that winning by two goals or more at the Nou Camp against a Barca team in such irresistible form is next to impossible.

Barcelona welcome Arsenal on March 16 at the Nou Camp in the return fixture.