Good news for Arsene Wenger as Samir Nasri is declared fit to start the game. Barcelona are at near full strength too - with only Carles Puyol missing from the regular eleven. Eric Abidal takes his place, while Maxwell starts at left-back.
1' Hang on to your seatbelts! Here we go!!
2' Arsenal looking more up for it initially as Barca struggle to settle down.
5' And the Gunners carve out the first opportunity with Robin van Persie smashing a shot straight at Victor Valdes from a narrow angle! Gunners on top in the opening exchanges!
14' Lionel Messi is put through by David Villa and chips over Szczesny but it's just wide! Barca storming back into the game.
19' Iniesta almost put Villa through this time! Szczesny comes out to collect at the striker's feet!
20' Messi and Villa almost telepathic in mapping out the other's movements. Messi lobs the ball over the Arsenal defence, but Villa just offside.
23' Barcelona really stamping their authority now. Villa is all over the Gunners' defence and Messi has already dazzled with his footwork. Goes for another audacious chip - but straight into the keeper's hands this time.
24' At the other end, Walcott gets away from Maxwell and swings in a great cross - but it's just behind Van Persie. Barca on the attack again!
25' Arsenal on the counter, with Walcott screaming down the centre before a superb through ball to Fabregas. The Arsenal captain crosses for Van Persie but it's cleared by Abidal . Close!
27' GOAL! David Villa has opened the scoring for Barcelona after some cracking opening exchanges by both teams! Arsenal 0-1 Barcelona!
Clichy was the man playing Villa onside.
29' Clichy having a nightmare on the right. Pedro in this time. Szczesny blocks at close range.
30' Wilshere leads the Arsenal counter and Van Persie is in! VAN PERSIEEEE. Skews his shot horribly wide.
32' Barca playing keep-ball. Arsenal might as well not be on the pitch. The Gunners are being beaten at their own game. Again.
34' Arsenal get possession after chasing shadows for five minutes. Fabregas takes a shot but is blocked on the edge of the area.
36' Eboue leads another Arsenal attack but choses to cut in with Van Persie calling for the ball on the outside. Poor by the right-back.
38' Messi gets the ball in the net after a scrappy exchange but flagged for offside. Gunners breathe again. Just.
41' Lovely interplay between Nasri and Fabregas on the edge of the Barca area. But the skip then flips a cross beyond the byline.
42' Arsenal ending stronger here. Nasri takes on three defenders at the same time and almost beats them. Forced to go back in the end. Arsenal attack from the other flank and Walcott's shot is blocked by Pique.
44' Nasri getting more heavily involved in the game. Dinks a cross for van Persie but it lacks pace and the the Dutchman sends it looping over Victor Valdes.
45' And the half ends with Walcott losing possession in Barca's half. 45 riveting minutes have passed by. It's Arsenal 0-1 Barcelona at half-time.
Second Half
47' Arsenal start stronger again with Wilshere leading the charge. Creates some space and takes a shot! Straight at Valdes.
50' Arsenal lording possession - but can't find that final ball. Walcott is the man crowded out this time.
52' Song tries to go through a wall of defenders and gets it all wrong. Arsenal caught short at the back, but Koscielny does well to cut out the danger.
56' Walcott leads the charge once again! Puts in a cross which Maxwell boots right back at him. Walcott tries again - this time finds Van Persie. But Van Persie skies his shot into the London night.
57' Pedro is in behind now! But Koscielny bundles him off the ball. Close call that
58' This game just does not take a breather! Arsenal storm up the other end and win a corner. Barcelona simply can't clear their lines and ultimately Dani Alves flies in with a hefty challenge to put the ball out.
60' Arsenal making all the running now. Fabregas puts Nasri in on the left and the Frenchman plays the ball through to van Persie but Gerard Pique makes a great interception. The subsequent corner is cleared easily.
65' Another opening, another wasted opportunity! The excellent Wilshere plays a superb ball to Fabregas who squares it to Van Persie. But yet again the Dutchman misfires - this time a gentle strike at Valdes.
67' Barca win a lucky corner at the other end. It's let's-keep-the-ball-until-the-opponent's-eyes-glaze-over time again. Suddenly Messi puts on the after-burners and skips past two, three before running into a wall of red and white.
68' Villa off for Keita, Song for Arshavin. Arsenal going in for all out attack here.
71' Walcott teases Maxwell again - but the left-back does well and forces a goal-kick.
74' The game has slowed down considerably now. Both teams looking a bit tired now. A poor pass from Xavi breaks down a decent spell of Barca possession.
77' Theo Walcott comes off and Nicklas Bendtner comes on for the home side.
77' Brilliant Young Jack! Abosolutely brilliant! Plays a one-two amongst a trillion Barca legs and is only foiled by a desperate Abidal tackle.
79' GOAL! Robin van Persie equalises with a stunning strike from an astonishingly narrow angle! It's Arsenal 1-1 Barcelona! Superb ball from Clichy over the defence and the off-colour Dutchman finds his range! Valdes must take some blame for being beaten at his near post, but what a strike!
82' Arsenal in full flow now, Fabregas motors away - but is let down by a poor ball.
83' GOAL! And ARSENAL take the LEAD!! Superb move culminates in Nasri squaring the ball to Arshavin who buries it! Arsenal 2-1 Barcelona!!
87' And this time it's Bendtner who's through on the left ! Barcelona being torn to ribbons here! Bendtner tries to cross the ball but Valdes pushes it out for a corner.
89' But the Catalans won't go down without a fight of course. Messi sets the cat among the pigeons, before passing to Alves whose shot is blocked by the Gunners' keeper. A scramble ensues, before the ball ends up safely in Szczesny's hands.
Two minutes of added time. An eternity for the Gunners.
90'+ 1 Gunners pinned back in their area, before Arshavin takes them away. Good play between the Russian and Fabregas, but the former then puts too much weight on his final ball. Vales gathers.
90' + 2 Arsenal in a blind panic! Arshavin fails to control the ball inside his own area with Alves lurking, but the rest of the Gunners converged on the right-back to clear it. Nervous times at the Emirates.
90' + 2 Pique punts one last hopeful ball forward, but it's too late! The ref has blown his whistle and the Gunners have won! What a performance by Arsene Wenger's men!