Four star Messi demolishes Arsenal

Lionel Messi lit up the Nou Camp with a stunning four-goal haul to destroy Arsenal and maintain Barcelona's bid for back-to-back European triumphs.

Nicklas Bendtner stunned the Spaniards with an 18th-minute opener to put Arsenal ahead but Messi levelled within three minutes.

Pedro teed the Argentine up for his second and a cool lob completed his first-half hat-trick in some style.

Messi put the seal on victory with a late solo strike for his fourth.

The 5-3 aggregate win sets up an intriguing semi-final meeting with Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan, though in this kind of form few teams will be able to deny Barcelona a second successive European triumph.

Arsenal, though, more than played their part in a superb quarter-final tie, having come from 2-0 down in the first leg to lead 3-2 on aggregate in the Nou Camp.

Theo Walcott's introduction to the first leg at the Emirates had rescued Arsenal and his reward for that blistering late cameo was a starting place in the return, Pepe Guardiola anticipating his inclusion by bringing in the pacy Eric Abidal for Maxwell after the full-back was given such a torrid time in the first leg.

But predictably it was Barca who carried the early threat as Messi, playing a more central role than in the first leg, hit a low sighter that Almunia did well to push round the post at full stretch then served further notice of his ominous threat with a delightful curling shot that dropped onto the roof of Almunia's net.

Just as Barca appeared to be gaining a stranglehold though, Arsenal stunned the hosts with a breakaway opener.

Abu Diaby, lucky to escape an early booking for a chop on Xavi, looked to have fouled Marquez on the half-way line but was allowed to play a delightful pass in behind Abidal and send Walcott scampering clear.

Walcott resisted the temptation to shoot, instead teeing up Bendtner for a bundled effort that was blocked by Victor Valdez, only for Bendtner to quickly scramble back to his feet and steer home the opener.

Moments later, Diaby had another chance to play in Walcott as Arsenal broke again, but chose the wrong option as he made a mess of his attempted pass to Bendtner. It was a costly error, as Barca were back on level terms within three minutes.

Messi looked to play in Xavi but found Silvestre in the way, but the Frenchman's touch was poor and he could only steer the ball back into the path of Messi who lashed home the leveller.

It was the start of a devastating 20-minute spell from the magical Messi and Arsenal found him impossible to contain.

Messi threatened again when he shot into the side-netting after Rosicky had lost possession in midfield, but Barcelona were back in front on 32 minutes after Messi opened up Arsenal with a perfectly-weighted pass to send Abidal clear down the left. His low cross was cut out by the sliding Thomas Vermaelen but fell kindly for Pedro to tee-up Messi, who finished the move he had started with two touches to steer the ball beyond a mesmerised Almunia.