They don’t need to hold an election to find the right man for No 10 here.

Lionel Messi, who wears the Barcelona No 10 shirt with such distinction, scored four goals in a performance of such majesty that comparisons with the great Diego Maradona grow in substance with each stylish showing.

Messi utterly mesmerised Arsenal’s defence, carving them apart for a 21-minute hat-trick in the first half, so destroying any hope raised by Nicklas Bendtner’s goal, before then finishing the game with a flourish, adding a fourth through Manuel Almunia’s legs.

Impudent, inventive and irresistible, Messi looked up to the heavens but, in reality, this was a night when the Gods looked up to him.

Barcelona’s reward for Messi’s master-class is now a clash of cultures in the semi-finals with Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan barring the road to the Champions League climax in Madrid. The Special One meets the Perfect 10: the showman of the technical area meets the box-office star of the penalty area. Expect fireworks.

Blending technique, balance, acceleration, vision and endless determination, Messi eviscerated Arsenal. The visitors can point to absent friends such as Alex Song, Robin van Persie, William Gallas, Andrei Arshavin and Cesc Fabregas but even at full strength, even at full throttle, even at their most defensively defiant, Arsenal could have had no answer to the brilliance of Messi.

For all Arsenal’s frustration at bowing out, and it was rather cruel of the hosts to screen repeats of Messi’s awesome foursome while the 4,900 visiting fans waited behind afterwards, Barcelona’s progress should be celebrated. Six of their starting XI were home-grown from Victor Valdes in goal through Sergio Busquets, Xavi, Messi, Pedro and Bojan. Barcelona’s attacking trident cost nothing. Even the coach, Pep Guardiola, grew up at the club. More than a club, more than a production line and definitely more than a match for Arsenal.

Barcelona’s elegant menace was immediately apparent, Xavi inevitably setting the tempo and Messi predictably setting the alarm bells ringing in a Arsenal defence where Mikael Silvestre started poorly and faded. Xavi was first to show, the Catalans’ captain always willing to accept a pass whatever the pressure, displaying control and balance in the second minute to guide the ball around the busy Abou Diaby, who promptly responded with a late challenge.

Diaby’s bite at Xavi’s ankles and Samir Nasri’s subsequent hounding of Busquets confirmed Wenger’s plan for his players to mark “more tightly’’, attempting to close down Barcelona’s creative types early. The problem was that the European champions have so many creative types. Xavi was the conductor but virtuoso talents could be found everywhere — and this was even before Messi began his triumphal march.

Eric Abidal, returning at left-back, kept raiding upfield. Dani Alves was always an outlet down the right. Bojan, filling in ably for the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic, offered touch and movement until replaced by Yaya Toure. Pedro Cleverly disguising his intentions early on, Bojan suddenly delivered the ball to Pedro, whose shot sped wide. Then came Messi, seizing on Gael Clichy’s loose clearance and sending a left-footed strike skimming just over Manuel Almunia’s crossbar. The warning was clear, the identity of Arsenal’s nemesis already obvious.

The storm was heavy and fast moving but Arsenal weathered it for a while, even taking the lead with a goal on the counter that indicated Wenger had studied how Liverpool prospered here three years ago. Snapping into tackles, encouragingly shedding all the inhibition that stained their early first-leg labours, Arsenal were certainly fired up for this until Messi doused their ardour, breaking their game-plan and their hearts.

For a brief, glorious period, Arsenal harboured hope of an almighty upset. When Xavi and Busquets attempted to work the ball across midfield after 18 minutes, Diaby pounced, nicking the ball and immediately responding to Wenger’s demand to move the ball quickly by releasing Theo Walcott.

Watched by Franco Baldini, the England international tore down the inside-right channel, rapidly entering the box and selflessly squaring for Bendtner.

The ball was slightly behind the Dane, and Dani Alves was sliding in fast, but Bendtner managed to get his shot away, bringing a save from Valdes. Having collided with the Barcelona keeper, Bendtner somehow managed to snake out his right foot and flick the ball into the net as Rafael Marquez flung himself across vainfully.

Wenger’s side dared to dream. The visiting supporters chorused “one-nil to the Arsenal’’ but not for long. Within three minutes, Messi began turning their dreams into nightmares, his sorcery turning Wenger’s defenders to stone.

Lacking Gallas, Arsenal’s ramparts looked shaky, particularly the part protected by Silvestre, whose poor control gifted the ball to Messi. Even then, the response from the World Player of the Year was marvellous, Messi shimmying to deceive Gael Clichy before ramming the ball past Almunia.

Walcott, commendably, sought to rally Arsenal, racing down the right, trailing danger in his wake before being crudely stopped by Busquets. For all the joy of their football, Barcelona can mix it. The artistic soon replaced the physical, Messi splashing more vibrant colour across the Nou Camp canvass.

Messi began the move for Barcelona’s second, cleverly keeping possession until the overlapping Abidal was clear of Bacary Sagna. Messi then released the ball and Abidal’s cross caused chaos. Thomas Vermaelen managed to intercept but Barcelona were too quick to the loose ball, too hungry for a goal. Pedro laid the ball off for Messi, who ghosted past the hapless Silvestre and hammered his second past Almunia.

Silvestre endured a chastening first half. A penny for the thoughts of the fan at the Arsenal AGM who called Silvestre “a geriatric’’, incensing Wenger, who found the comment disrespectful. However extreme that remark, Silvestre’s speed of reaction has dimmed markedly from his Manchester United days and he was badly exposed by Messi.

Silvestre was not alone; Vermaelen was caught out of position when Messi completed his hat-trick. When Seydou Keita gained possession in midfield, the Malian quickly sent Messi scampering down the inside-left channel. As Denilson struggled to get back and Vermaelen failed badly to come across in time, Messi lifted the ball over Almunia, the applause starting with the ball still in the air. The man with the Ballon d’Or had the match ball — and it was only half-time, the whistle for the break drowned out by cries of “Messi, Messi’’.

Arsenal emerged early for the second half, determined to fight against the fading of their European light and Bendtner twice enjoyed good opportunities but Gabriel Milito and then Marquez slammed the door shut. So designed for attacking, Barcelona give opponents chances, a trait Mourinho will have noted, and Tomas Rosicky should have done better than shooting over.

As if to underline the quality available to Barcelona, Andres Iniesta then ran on before Messi saved the best until last, gliding past Emmanuel Eboue and then outrunning Vermaelen. Almunia saved Messi’s first effort but Messi simply rolled the ball through the keeper’s legs and in. Unstoppable.

Unforgettable.

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