Arsenal 0 Barcelona 2: Plenty of positives to be found in Barça defeat, claims Per Mertesacker

Gunners defender takes heart from pressing Catalans and expects to bounce back at Manchester United on Sunday

Aaron Ramsey in action against Barcelona in the Champions League (Getty)

As Per Mertesacker reflected on two flashes of Lionel Messi’s mercurial brilliance which left Arsenal on the verge of another Champions League last-16 elimination on Tuesday night, the German could at least see the positives.

On the face of it, a 2-0 first-leg home Champions League defeat is as bad as it gets. Barcelona have won 37 away legs in European competition and only twice failed to progress after a second leg at the Nou Camp, so few will expect Arsenal to damage that statistic next month.

But the growing maturity of Hector Bellerin, the disciplined performances of Aaron Ramsey and Francis Coquelin in midfield and Mesut Özil’s willingness to chase and press high up the field hinted at a development in Arsène Wenger’s squad of the qualities required to challenge for the major honours.

Losing to one of the best club sides that the world has ever seen is one thing but, with a trip to Manchester United on the horizon on Sunday, the plus points from the Barcelona defeat are many according to Mertesacker.

“You can always take positives from a game and how we created the chances and how we got out of the pressure, that was positive,” Mertesacker said. “So was the defensive effort from ourselves. We were doubted a lot, but you can’t say that we have defended badly [against Barcelona].

“There is always something positive we take from this game and we go to Manchester because we want to compete in the Premier League.

“We will never feel sorry for ourselves. We have never done that this season, particularly when we have lost a game we have tried to bounce back quickly. I think we have a great chance on Sunday to do that again and to show we are still in a strong position and still competing for the title.”

Last season’s FA Cup sixth-round victory at Old Trafford will, according to Mertesacker, play in Arsenal’s favour against Louis van Gaal’s injury-ravaged team.

“It helps also that we beat them last year there in the Cup,” he said. “That was a great experience for us and is still in our heads sometimes when you think about big games, when you think about Old Trafford.It will be an interesting game, let’s not forget the positives from the Barcelona game and go there and try to really give our best, with our same effort and same spirit we have a good chance.”

The two-point deficit between themselves and leaders Leicester City at the top of the Premier League table appears a more bridgeable gap than the two goals they must pull back in the Nou Camp. But although Arsenal face yet another last-16 dismissal, Mertesacker believes that signs of defensive progress were shown in the first leg.

“You have to score at one stage against Barcelona to keep the pressure up on them,” Mertesacker said. “They had a lot of possession, but we defended well and we had to score at one point – that was the key to why we lost in the end. It was obviously a disappointing ending. I think we defended so well over 70, 80 minutes and then got punished twice.

“We tried so hard to cover each other, but how we defended and kept going over 80 minutes was all right. When you keep going for such a long time and keep up with a good team you have to score and that was a disappointing moment for everyone and we couldn’t get over it,” he admitted.

It is the toughest of missions in Barcelona on 16 March, though, and there are few consolations for Arsenal as they cast minds towards the return leg. But while there is a chance, there is hope, according to the Arsenal centre-half.

“We will try with effort and spirit,” Mertesacker said. “We won’t give up, honestly. There is a small chance, small margins obviously, but we could see they were vulnerable at times. We need to play better on the break and when we have the ball, we could have created more chances and shared the ball better in the final third.

“Obviously, we need to score at one point then we could have put pressure on them and they would have to come at us.”

They are likely to have less to worry about at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Top Gunners: Those that impressed despite defeat to Barcelona

Hector Bellerin

Spaniard, 21 next month, provided attacking outlet and also displayed growing assurance at right-back, with his pace helping limit impact of Neymar and Jordi Alba.

Aaron Ramsey

Wales midfielder provided defensive screen alongside Coquelin and also got forward, having a shot blocked. Attempted (52) and completed (45) the most passes of any Arsenal player.

Francis Coquelin

Making just his third start after two months out, gave assured showing, was strong in the tackle and broke up attacks. He was replaced by Mathieu Flamini, who conceded a penalty within 47 seconds.