Nicklas Bendtner finished off a counter attack on 19 minutes to put the Gunners ahead after 18 minutes.

But Messi brought the score level a couple of minutes later after capitalizing on a defensive lapse to fire home from outside the area.

Seven minutes past the half-hour mark the Argentina wizard put the Catalans ahead with a clinical finish from close range.

Messi completed a hat-trick three minutes from halftime after going one-on-one with the keeper to slot the ball over his head and into the net.

The Barcelona legend made it four after eluding Arsenal defenders to score on the rebound two minutes from time.

Upon sinking Arsenal, the Blaugrana set up a semi-final meeting with Inter Milan, who beat CSKA Moscow earlier on the same day.

The match's goals