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Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker: 'We did not deserve to win'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 23 February 2016

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker claims that his team did not deserve to beat Barcelona in Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first leg at the Emirates.

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker has claimed that his team "did not deserve" to beat Barcelona at the Emirates on Tuesday night.

A double from Lionel Messi saw Barcelona record a 2-0 victory in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash in London.

The hosts missed an excellent chance to take a first-half lead through Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Mertesacker has admitted that his team have been made to pay for failing to make the breakthrough on the night.

"When we conceded the first and then the second, it is very tough now. We had to score and we didn't so we do not deserve anything," Mertesacker told BT Sport.

"You can never keep them quiet for 90 minutes. We managed it first half and parts of the second, but we could not score. It is going to be much more difficult now, but we never give up. We tried our best, but we did not deserve it.

"We now have to concentrate on the Premier League, but in one month we will approach Barcelona with the same bravery."

Arsenal return to Premier League action this weekend with a trip to Manchester United.