Lethal Lionel was the difference, says Wenger

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger acknowledged Barcelona’s four-goal hero Lionel Messi was the difference on the night as his side crashed out of the Champions League following a 4-1 defeat at the Nou Camp last night.

Arsenal went ahead through Nicklas Bendtner early on to take the lead in the tie for the first time, but the Gunners’ joy was short-lived as Messi struck a brilliant first half hat-trick, before compounding the Londoners’ misery with a fourth late on to seal a 6-3 aggregate victory for Barcelona.

Wenger likened Barca’s brilliant Argentinian winger to a computer creation. “He’s like a PlayStation,” the Arsenal coach said after the match, when asked to describe the Argentinian’s performance.