ARSENE WENGER knows Arsenal face a monumental task trying to stop Barcelona superstar Leo Messi.
And he freely admits: "He is on another planet."The Argentinian World Player of the Year, 22, poses a monstrous threat to the Gunners' Champions League dream.
European Champions Barca come to the Emirates tomorrow with Messi in explosive form ahead of the quarter-final.
And Wenger readily reveals he is in awe of the Argentina genius.
He said: "You go to football to watch players like Messi. What he does is so beautiful it becomes art.
"What he does at his age, has never been seen before.
"To take the ball in the middle of the pitch and go score goals like he was in the school playground, it is just incredible.
"I was thinking a couple of years ago he couldn't go any higher but I am conscious that today, he's on another planet."
Messi was crowned European and World Player of the Year after leading Barcelona to an historic Treble last year.
He banged in 38 goals, including the clincher in the 2-0 Champions League final triumph over holders Manchester United in Rome.
This year he is again favourite to retain the World Player of the Year title - with United's Wayne Rooney his main rival.
Messi already has 32 goals this term, including back-to-back La Liga hat-tricks and a Champions League brace against Stuttgart in recent weeks.
And he fired the winner in the final of the Club World Championship against Estudiantes.
Wenger added: "He knows how to open up all the defences in the world.
"There's always apprehension when you play a player like that.
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"What will be important for us is to have a huge collective performance while at the same time warning the players what are the strong points of Messi and how to limit him a bit. But my defenders know Messi as well as I do." 
<a href="http://optimized-by.rubiconproject.com/t/7753/12448/22247-15.1"><img src="http://optimized-by.rubiconproject.com/a/7753/12448/22247-15.img" width="300" height="250" border="0"></a> Barca skipper Carles Puyol agrees with Wenger and comparing him to close pal Cesc Fabregas, said: "Messi is the best player in the world. He's a different player to Cesc, who's very important for Arsenal.
"He is the focal point of his team and if he plays well, Arsenal do too.
"The team can't wait to play in London. We're still in the hunt for both competitions and we want to win them.
"We show it every day and we go to Arsenal with great hopes and great belief knowing that we face a team that plays beautiful football, with players of great talent.
"It's not going to be easy to win. It's clear everyone is desperate to beat us not just because of what we have won but for all the talk about us.
"So every team comes out extra-motivated.
"But Arsenal's football is among the best in Europe."
Arsenal v Barcelona pits the teams that play the most attractive football in the Continent against each other.
And Puyol added: "Arsene Wenger is a manager with great experience who knows an awful lot about football and will get the best from his team.
"But it is true they try to play offensive football and we always love to watch them.
"This will be one of the all-time classic games in the Champions League. Both teams love to play attacking football and I hope people will see a great spectacle."
Gunners midfield star Denilson is not intimidated by the prospect - and declared that Arsenal are determined to make Messi and Co look second best.
And the Brazilian is adamant the north London side can deal with the Argentina star and feels they have the quality to reach the semi-finals.
He said: "Messi is a great player and we all know about him. But we are not going to be obsessed with his ability in the quarter-final.
"Cesc Fabregas is our leader in the team and he insists we can beat Barcelona.
"I am happy that we are facing them. Barcelona are a great team and we know it will be difficult to win the tie but we are confident because Arsenal has got enough quality and they are going to be two big games.
"If we want to win the Champions League, we have to face one of the favourites - and knock them out of the competition.
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