Aaron Ramsey has vowed that Arsenal will keep fighting despite having lost the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie to Barcelona 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium this evening.
Arsenal started well and went toe-to-toe with Barcelona, appearing to have a little more energy than the Catalans, but struggling to find the finishing touch to take the lead.
Barcelona came into the game towards the end of the first half and Luis Suarez headed wide when it seemed he must score.
The Catalans grew into the second half and eventually took the lead through Lionel Messi in the 71st minute, with Neymar feeding the Argentine.
Suarez then hit the post before Mathieu Flamini, on for Francis Coquelin, fouled Messi in the box to give a penalty away.
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And Messi stepped up and made no mistake from the spot, making it 2-0.
It ended 2-0, meaning Arsenal have a mountain to climb at the Camp Nou in the second leg, but Ramsey insists they will try.
"We did really well in the first half – we created a few opportunities but didn't take them", Ramsey said on BT Sport after the final whistle.
"It will be tough for us now but we will go there and try our hardest.
"Against a side like that you have to take your chances."
And Ramsey's words were echoed by defender Per Mertesacker, although the German feels his side paid the price for not scoring.
"We had to score at one point here and that's why we do not deserve anything. You will never keep them quiet for 90 minutes.
"We took more risks and then they scored. We had enough chances to score at least one.
"We have to concentrate on the Premier League now. In one month we face Barcelona again and we still have a chance. We never give up", Mertesacker added.
