Arsenal v Barcelona: Arsene Wenger insists his side can be the equals of Champions League favourites

Arsène Wenger has warned Barcelona that Arsenal are desperate to prove the divide between themselves and the greatest team in the world has vanished.

The rivals meet in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie at Emirates Stadium tomorrow night in an eagerly-awaited repeat of last season's quarter-final.

Arsenal were humbled 6-3 on aggregate, losing 4-1 at the Nou Camp after Lionel Messi plundered four goals and escaping with a 2-2 draw at home.

The encounters pointed to a gulf in class but Wenger insisted that over the last 12 months the Gunners, who welcome back Samir Nasri from injury, have been transformed.

''We don't deny the quality of Barcelona, but what is important for us is we have a good opportunity to show who we are now,'' he said.

''Not only that, we also want to show Barcelona we are capable of knocking them out.