Argentine scores all four goals as Barcelona beat Arsenal 4-1 to enter semis

Messi makes it a memorable night for Barcelona

Argentine scores all four goals as Barcelona beat Arsenal 4-1 to enter semis

Nicklas Bendtner had fired the Gunners into a shock lead on 18 minutes. However, Messi soon drew Barcelona level after capitalising on a mistake by Mikael Silvestre.

The Argentina forward then added a second from close range before dashing clear to make it 3-1 just before the break, and grabbed a fourth with three minutes left to complete a comfortable 6-3 aggregate victory for the tournament holders.

Arsene Wenger's injury-hit squad -- without the likes of captain Cesc Fabregas, Andrey Arshavin and Alex Song -- must now regroup and focus on overhauling Chelsea and Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League title race.

Arsenal, playing in their white change kit, looked determined not to be overrun as they had during the opening exchanges of the first leg.

The English side snatched a shock lead after 18 minutes. Theo Walcott was put clear by Abou Diaby down the right, and he dashed into the Barca penalty area before squaring to Bendtner. Victor Valdes made a good reaction save, but the in-form Denmark striker was quick to stab the rebound into the net.

Barcelona equalised three minutes later.

Silvestre, in the side ahead of veteran Sol Campbell who was not fully fit, failed to clear the ball on the edge of the Arsenal penalty area, and Messi lashed his shot into the top right corner.

Arsenal were again punished by Messi for some poor defending as Barcelona went 2-1 ahead on 37 minutes. Eric Abidal crossed the ball into the Arsenal box from the right, which was cut out by Thomas Vermaelen.

However, his teammates were slow to react as Pedro knocked the loose ball out to Messi, who smashed it past Almunia.

The Argentina international completed a stunning hat-trick four minutes before the break when he latched onto a header from Abidal to race clear before dispatching a brilliant chip over the Arsenal keeper.

Messi then completed a fine night's work with another well-taken goal three minutes from time as the holders marched on towards a mouth-watering semi-final clash against Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan.

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