On this Day: ‘PlayStation’ Messi hits four against Arsenal

Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images

Another masterclass from the GOAT

A look through the history books shows that Lionel Messi was busy knocking Arsenal out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage on this day in 2010.

The Gunners pitched up at the Camp Nou with the scores at 2-2, after coming from 2-0 down at the Emirates to snatch a draw, but were soundly beaten by a Messi masterclass.

Nicklas Bendtner actually opened the scoring to put Arsenal ahead in the tie, but Messi responded two minutes later with a powerful effort to make it 3-3 on aggregate.

Messi grabbed his second after a clever pass from Pedro and then completed a first-half hat-trick with a classy lob over goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.

The Argentine then became just the sixth player to score four goals in a Champions League match late on when he added his fourth of the night.

Messi went past Emmanuel Eboue and Thomas Vermaelen before putting the ball through Almunia’s legs after the goalkeeper had saved his initial effort.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger came out with some pretty famous quotes about Messi after the match.

“He’s like a PlayStation. I think he can take advantage of every mistake you make. Barcelona are a very good side but of course they have Messi who can make the difference at any moment in the game.

“We lost against a team better than us with the best player in world. He made the impossible possible. He has something exceptional. He is unstoppable.”

And here’s the highlights to enjoy:

Source: barcablaugranes.com