Arsenal suffered a blow to their chances to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals after losing 2-0 against Barcelona at the Emirates.
Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi scored a brace to extend the reigning Champions League title holders unbeaten run to a record 33 games.
Mesut Özil went into the game with the best assist record in England (17) but was unable to setup a goal against Barcelona although he did create two goal scoring chances.
Özil has now gone nine Champions League games without providing an assist but it would be harsh to criticise him considering he has created 105 chances this season – one of the highest in Europe’s top five leagues including England, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Perhaps the problem has more to do with his teammates not finishing off his chances.
9 – Mesut Ozil has now gone nine Champions League games without recording an assist. Drought.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 23, 2016
The Gunners will now have to beat Barcelona at the Camp Nou by two goals or more to stand any chance of making it to the next round.
Arsenal are however, joint second in the Premier League just two points behind leaders Leicester City.
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