Arsenal can finish the job says Wilshere

Jack Wilshere believes Arsenal can progress to the Champions League quarter-finals at the expense of Barcelona following the Gunners' stunning first leg victory.

Arsenal's 2-1 win at the Emirates on Wednesday has given Wenger's side a fighting chance of reaching the last eight when they face the Spanish champions in the second leg on March 8.

Wilshere, one of the outstanding performers in Arsenal's win on Wednesday, says he is desperate to prolong the Gunners' involvement in the competition after a memorable past week which also saw him make his full England debut.

"It's been a great couple of weeks, the best couple of weeks of my life," the 19-year-old said.

Wilshere said unlike last season -- when Arsenal were beaten 4-1 in the second leg after drawing the first tie 2-2 -- the Gunners had a lead to defend in Spain.

"Now we've got something to hold on to in the tie. Last year against Barcelona we finished 2-2 at home," he said.

"This year it's 2-1 and we have a chance. If we got a goal over there, we will see what happens.

"We have to go to the Nou Camp and show our character."

Meanwhile Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was full of praise for Wilshere, who showed a composure which belied his tender years in the face of a sustained onslaught led by Barcelona's celebrated midfield.

"Jack Wilshere was outstanding," Wenger said. "He was not fazed by the occasion in difficult periods. He took the ball and got out of the pressure."

Wilshere said he had watched Barcelona stars Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez during Spain's World Cup campaign.

"I watched Spain in the World Cup and they were the best team there, so I knew a bit about them before the game," said Wilshere.

"But once you get into the game, you get used to them.

"There was a spell in the first half where for about 20 minutes we didn't touch the ball. But we knew they were going to do that.

"We just had to keep our shape and in the second half, we knew we could hit them on the counter-attack."