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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has branded the decision to send off Robin Van Persie as ‘embarrassing’.

The Holland international was dismissed in the second half for picking up two yellow cards – his second came when referee Massimo Busacca believed Van Persie had deliberately kicked the ball away.

The striker had been flagged offside but he carried on for a shot at goal, and despite pleas that he did not hear the whistle because of the Camp Nou crowd, Busacca sent him from the field.

Arsenal went into the Champions League second-leg clash with a 2-1 lead, but two goals from Lionel Messi and a Xavi strike sealed a 3-1 win and a 4-3 triumph on aggregate to send the Gunners crashing out for the second successive year.

Wenger was fuming the decision and even believes Uefa representatives do not agree with the referee’s decision.

Wenger said: “I think he must think he made the right decision.

"I spoke to Uefa people. They are shocked as well because it killed a promising, fantastic football match.

"What for? If it's a bad tackle or a second bookable offence, okay, but frankly it is embarrassing.

"Two kinds of people can be unhappy, those who love Arsenal and those who love football can be frustrated with the referee's decisions.

"When he made the decision it was a very promising game, very interesting. That's the regret.

"We lost against a very good Barcelona side, congratulations to them and good luck for the future.

"We have many regrets because we didn't expect to lose the game like that. I feel sorry for people who watched the game."