Barca's players exhilarated in ousting Arsenal

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Barcelona defender Eric Adibal was delighted as his side reached the last 8 of the Champions League following a 3-1 win over Arsenal in the return leg on Tuesday.

Two goals from Leo Messi gave Barca a 3-1 win on the night and a 4-3 triumph on aggregate to take them into the quarterfinals of the competition.

"It was a complicated game, we played well," said Abidal on Spanish television after the game.

He admitted that Sergio Busquet's own goal that had momentarily made it 1-1 on the night had complicated matters for the Catalans.

"It became a lot harder for us, but we did our job and we did it well," said Abidal, who also said who he wanted to play his former club in the last eight.

"I hope to play against Lyon, so they have to beat Real Madrid, " commented the defender.

Barcelona president Sandro Rossell admitted it had been a tense night in the Camp Nou stadium, but he was delighted with the result and the team.

"We suffered but it is the type of suffering that you enjoy at the end. I try to be objective, but think we deserved to qualify," said Rossell.

"I would like to say, today we feel proud to support this club, have this team, support and this coach. This is what I want to highlight. I feel really proud to be part of this group of people, " he added.

Meanwhile the Arsenal captain Cesc Fabrigas was disappointed at the result and also at the sending off of Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie for kicking the ball away, which saw him shown a second yellow card.

"It's a shame because we played well and we made them suffer with the goal, then it was not to be. A lot of things went against us. You can't send a player off for kicking the ball away," complained the player who began his career in the Barca youth team.

"Barca played well and we didn't create chances, but I am proud of my team. Barca were better, but we defended well and had a chance to go through," said Cesc.

Finally Van Persie complained bitterly about his sending off.

"In my opinion the card was a joke, how can I hear the whistle when there are 95,000 people in the ground and there was a fraction of a second between the referee blowing and me shooting? I don't understand anything," complained the Arsenal striker.

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