Arsenal vs Barcelona: Camp Nou trip a 'lost cause' but Gunners can win Premier League, says Rio Ferdinand

The Gunners were hit on the counter-attack by Lionel Messi before the Argentinian added another from the spot

Former Leeds United and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand on duty for BT Sport (Getty)

Rio Ferdinand believes Arsenal already consider their Champions League second-leg tie with Barcelona as a “lost cause” after their 2-0 home defeat to the European champions last night.

The Gunners executed an effective game plan for long periods but were hit on the counter-attack by Lionel Messi before the Argentine superstar added another from the penalty spot to give the Catalan giants two away goals.

Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, said at full-time that Barca have a 95 per cent chance of securing safe passage to the quarter-finals after their Emirates exploits.

Speaking on BT Sport, 2008 winner Ferdinand said: “In the pre-match talks that he had with the team, it seems he highlighted the counter-attack as a big issue they had to combat. To concede through a counter-attack must have frustrated him.

“But the naivety, when you go 1-0 down in a Champions League game like this you have to remember there's a second leg. 1-0 to the Nou Camp is not a great result but you've still got a chance, your foot is still in the tie, whereas at 2-0 it's almost a lost cause.

“As you see with the interviews with the manager and [Per] Mertesacker, it's almost like it's gone now. So the disappointment I'm sure is that he preempted what could have happened and they fell into the trap.

“Going out to Barcelona, they’re capable of beating any team on any given day. The [Premier League] has been so inconsistent, especially from the top teams, this is the year Arsenal should go on and win it. If they don't questions will surely be asked.”