Champions: Two down Arsenal rally to hold Barca

Arsenal clawed back from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with Barcelona on Wednesday in a rip-roaring Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Emirates.

The holders laid siege to the home goal during a one-sided first half in which goalkeeper Manuel Almunia kept Arsenal alive, but they turned their superiority into goals when Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck twice shortly after the break.

The Swede calmly lobbed Almunia one minute after the interval and rifled his second high into the net from the edge of area to leave the north Londoners reeling on the hour.

Arsenal gave themselves some hope when substitute Theo Walcott halved the deficit with 20 minutes remaining and drew level five minutes from time when Cesc Fabregas converted a penalty after Carles Puyol was sent off for a foul.

In another first leg quarter-final match, Inter Milan beat CSKA Moscow 1-0 at the San Siro.

Diego Milito's strike on the hour gave the Italians victory.