Arsenal gave themselves a fighting chance of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals last night, coming from behind to stun favourites Barcelona 2-1 in a pulsating encounter.

Two goals in the final 12 minutes from Robin van Persie and substitute Andrey Arshavin clinched a dramatic victory for the English Premier League side after Barcelona had taken the lead through a first-half David Villa strike.

The result means Arsenal – thrashed 6-3 on aggregate by Barcelona in last year’s quarter-finals – will carry a narrow lead into Camp Nou when the two sides meet in the second leg.

The thrilling finale capped a superb encounter at the Emirates as arguably the two most stylish sides in Europe laid on a feast of attacking football.

Arsenal started brightly but the threat of Lionel Messi was never far away and the hosts were given a huge let-off on 15 minutes when the Argentina star was sent racing clear after an immaculate pass from Villa.

Messi committed Wojciech Szczesny with a magical feint and beat the Arsenal keeper with a delicate dink but the effort rolled just wide of the post.

Arsenal continued to live dangerously, and after numerous ominous warning signs, the opening goal duly arrived on 26 minutes.

Another eye-of-the-needle pass from Messi sent Villa racing clear and the Spanish World Cup star drilled a low shot beneath Szczesny.

Arsenal’s players appealed for offside as boos rang out around the Emirates, but Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli remained unmoved.

With Barcelona dominating possession, Arsenal’s most promising moments of the half came on the counter-attack, where Theo Walcott’s pace regularly unnerved the visitors’ defence.

A frenetic start to the second half saw both sides struggle to create clear chances, although Arsenal were grateful when Laurent Koscielny – magnificent throughout – just managed to knock Pedro Rodriguez off-balance as he went clear on goal on 57 minutes.

Arsenal continued to probe for openings on the break, however, and a sweeping move ended in a booking for Gerard Pique, who tripped Samir Nasri. The booking rules the Barca centre-back out of the second leg.

Just when it seemed Arsenal’s labours were to be in vain, Gael Clichy flicked a ball over the top and Van Persie went clear wide on the left. Nothing seemed on but the Dutchman spotted daylight between Valdes and the near post and thundered home a rasping low shot.

With Barcelona suddenly rocking, Arsenal pressed home their advantage, and seven minutes from time their persistence paid off.

Another counter-attack saw Nasri burst clear down the right. The Frenchman checked and weighed his options before picking out Arshavin, who had replaced Song, and the diminutive Russian swept in a majestic winner.

Roma beaten

A trio of Brazilians gave Shakhtar Donetsk a shock 3-2 victory at Roma in the other match of the night to put the Ukrainians in firm control.

Jadson, Douglas Costa and Luiz Adriano all found in the net in the space of 12 first-half minutes to turn the tie on its head following Simone Perrotta’s opener.

Jeremy Menez’s second-half strike ensured Roma retained a slight hope of triumphing following the second leg in Donetsk next month.

Roma went in front with a scrappy goal on 28 minutes as Rodrigo Taddei crossed for Perrotta to head goalwards, the ball hitting Razvan Rat in the chest and the defender failing to react as the ball then bounced over the line.

Just a minute later it was all square, though, as Jadson’s shot deflected off Daniele de Rossi and wrong-footed Doni.

The turnaround was complete on 36 minutes as Douglas Costa drove at a hesitating Roma defence, cut inside onto his left foot and curled a delicious strike around Doni.

On 42 minutes disaster struck for Roma as John-Arne Riise lost his balance and fell over, allowing Douglas Costa to steal the ball and set up Luiz Adriano to shoot home under Doni.

Roma took 15 minutes of the second period to finally threaten the Shakhtar goal but Menez couldn’t keep his knee over the ball and volleyed high.

But just a minute later he made amends, curling an unstoppable shot into the top corner from 20 yards.

Paolo Castellini forced Andriy Pyatov to tip over the bar before Francesco Totti shot straight at the keeper when well placed.

Substitute Marco Borriello directed a late header wide but Roma could not rescue a draw.

Round of 16 – first legs

Arsenal 2
Van Persie 78; Arshavin 83;
Barcelona 1
Villa 26;

Roma 2
Perrotta 28; Menez 61;
S. Donetsk 3
Jadson 29; Costa 36; Adriano 42;

Second legs: March 8.

Played Tuesday
Milan 0 - Tottenham 1
Valencia 1 - Schalke 1
Second legs: March 9.

February 22
Copenhagen vs Chelsea
Second leg: March 16.
Lyon vs Real Madrid
Second leg: March 16.

February 23
Marseille vs Man. United
Second leg: March 15.
Inter vs Bayern Munich
Second leg: March 15.