Why this ex-Arsenal star was livid after the game despite reaching Champions League semis

By Alessandro Schiavone at SIGNAL Iduna Park, Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund 3-1 FC Barcelona (3-5 on agg)

Goals: Guirassy 11', 49', 76' (D), Bensebaini own-goal 54' (B)

Wojciech Szczęsny had a face like thunder after the game DESPITE Barcelona sealing their place in the semis of the UEFA Champions League.

The Catalans succumbed to a trivial 3-1 defeat at Borussia Dortmund yesterday night.

But they still comfortably made it through on aggregate after dispatching Niko Kovac's side 4-0 in the first leg.

Yet the Polish keeper's anger can be explained by him failing to equal Johan Cruijff's record of going his first 23 games in a Barca shirt unbeaten.

Since dislodging Iñaki Peña in early January, the ex-Arsenal keeper, who had come out of retirement, had won 19 of his 22 games between the Catalans' sticks drawing three.

But it all came to a halt due to Serhou Guirssay's sumptuous hat-trick.

Rami Bensebaini's own-goal had given Barca hope of snatching at least a draw but it could all have gone horribly wrong had Julian Brandt not been flagged offside en route to Dortmund's 4-1 and with more than a quarter-of-an-hour to go.

Whether he had a fag or not after the game, the glass is half full for the Pole.

The winner of Inter Milan and Bayern Munich await the shaky Catalans in the semis.

Can he finally get his hands on the Champions League after failing to do so in north London, Rome and Turin?

If the stars align he could face Arsenal in Munich's final showdown next month.

Eight years after being forced out of the Emirates there possibly couldn't be a sweeter occasion for revenge.