Arsenal struck twice in the last 13 minutes as they came from behind to beat Barcelona 2-1 in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 meeting on Wednesday.
Arsenal never looked as overawed as they had been when the sides met in the quarter final last season, but they fell behind to David Villa's goal after 26 minutes.
But the introduction of Andrey Arshavin midway through the second half gave Arsenal extra attacking edge, and Robin van Persie levelled on 77 minutes, before Arshavin found a winner six minutes later.
Remarkably, Barcelona have now gone eight away knockout matches in the Champions League without a win.
"They are the best side in football history in my opinion and we managed to beat them," said Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.
"But the tie is 180 minutes and this is only halfway so it's nothing. It's a nice victory and it will give confidence to the team, but that's it, that's all."
Theo Walcott's pace was Arsenal's main threat last year, and it unsettled Barca again. A run at the heart of the defence after six minutes resulted in a short pass to Fabregas, who dinked it over the back four for Van Persie. His shot, though, was well saved by Victor Valdes.
Gradually Barca began to dominate possession, and an interchange between Lionel Messi and Villa set the Argentinian through.
Wojciech Szczesny, though, stood up well, and Messi's chipped finish drifted just wide.
But the opener did go Barcelona's way, Messi slipping in Villa to slot a finish through the goalkeeper's legs.
The game, already open, became extraordinarily so: Szczesny made a fine save as Pedro met Villa's cross with a firm backheel, then at the other end Van Persie skewed wide following a rapid break from Jack Wilshere.
Messi then had a goal ruled out for an extremely tight offside as he dived in to finish off after Szczesny had blocked Pedro's shot.
It remained engagingly end-to-end in the second half as well and Messi, played through by Andres Iniesta, hitting the side-netting.
With Wilshere excelling, though, Arsenal became increasingly threatening, and they found an equalizer with 13 minutes remaining.
Gael Clichy chipped a pass into the box and Van Persie, who had been tentative until then, lashed a shot goalwards from a narrow angle.
With Valdes edging out in expectation of a cross, the ball flashed in at his near post. "I don't know how it went in," Van Persie said. "I need to look at it again.
"We played our own game. If you sit back against them they are so good they will beat you by far.
"We had to beat them in their own style and we gave everything, in the end we were a bit lucky for a fantastic win."
That gave Arsenal a chance, and they improved it six minutes later with a goal of sublime quality.
Breaking from deep, Fabregas found Samir Nasri wide on the right with a superb pass. He advanced into the box, had the presence of mind to hold the ball up, and then laid the ball back to the edge of the box for Arshavin, who swept in a first-time finish.
Gerard Pique will miss the return in the Camp Nou through suspension.
Arsenal never looked as overawed as they had been when the sides met in the quarter final last season, but they fell behind to David Villa's goal after 26 minutes.
But the introduction of Andrey Arshavin midway through the second half gave Arsenal extra attacking edge, and Robin van Persie levelled on 77 minutes, before Arshavin found a winner six minutes later.
Remarkably, Barcelona have now gone eight away knockout matches in the Champions League without a win.
"They are the best side in football history in my opinion and we managed to beat them," said Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.
"But the tie is 180 minutes and this is only halfway so it's nothing. It's a nice victory and it will give confidence to the team, but that's it, that's all."
Theo Walcott's pace was Arsenal's main threat last year, and it unsettled Barca again. A run at the heart of the defence after six minutes resulted in a short pass to Fabregas, who dinked it over the back four for Van Persie. His shot, though, was well saved by Victor Valdes.
Gradually Barca began to dominate possession, and an interchange between Lionel Messi and Villa set the Argentinian through.
Wojciech Szczesny, though, stood up well, and Messi's chipped finish drifted just wide.
But the opener did go Barcelona's way, Messi slipping in Villa to slot a finish through the goalkeeper's legs.
The game, already open, became extraordinarily so: Szczesny made a fine save as Pedro met Villa's cross with a firm backheel, then at the other end Van Persie skewed wide following a rapid break from Jack Wilshere.
Messi then had a goal ruled out for an extremely tight offside as he dived in to finish off after Szczesny had blocked Pedro's shot.
It remained engagingly end-to-end in the second half as well and Messi, played through by Andres Iniesta, hitting the side-netting.
With Wilshere excelling, though, Arsenal became increasingly threatening, and they found an equalizer with 13 minutes remaining.
Gael Clichy chipped a pass into the box and Van Persie, who had been tentative until then, lashed a shot goalwards from a narrow angle.
With Valdes edging out in expectation of a cross, the ball flashed in at his near post. "I don't know how it went in," Van Persie said. "I need to look at it again.
"We played our own game. If you sit back against them they are so good they will beat you by far.
"We had to beat them in their own style and we gave everything, in the end we were a bit lucky for a fantastic win."
That gave Arsenal a chance, and they improved it six minutes later with a goal of sublime quality.
Breaking from deep, Fabregas found Samir Nasri wide on the right with a superb pass. He advanced into the box, had the presence of mind to hold the ball up, and then laid the ball back to the edge of the box for Arshavin, who swept in a first-time finish.
Gerard Pique will miss the return in the Camp Nou through suspension.
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