Arsenal's [ Images ] Dutch striker Robin van Persie [ Images ] described his sending-off against Barcelona [ Images ] as "a total joke" after his team's 3-1 defeat at the Nou Camp ended their hopes of a place in the Champions League [ Images ] quarter-finals.

Van Persie, who was declared fit for the game only earlier on Tuesday, was shown a second yellow card by experienced Swiss referee Massimo Busacca in the 56th minute when he took a shot at goal after being flagged for offside.

He said Arsenal felt betrayed, while club manager Arsene Wenger [ Images ] said he told the referee "face to face" what he thought of his decision.

"The sending-off cost us the game," Wenger who had a furious exchange with the referee immediately after the final whistle, told Sky Sports.

Van Persie told Sky: "My sending-off had a big influence, and in my opinion it was a total joke.

"How can I hear his whistle with 95,000 people jumping up -- how can I hear that for God's sake? Please explain that."

Told there was one second between the referee whistling and Van Persie shooting, the player replied: "That makes it even worse.

"I could understand if there was four, five or six (seconds) in between, if you make a chip or something, I could understand, but this way, one second from his whistle to my shot is just a joke."

"He has been bad all evening, whistling against us. I don't know why he was here tonight. I tried to explain to him I didn't hear the whistle but he just said: 'second yellow card' -- unbelievable.

"We feel a little bit betrayed, when it was 1-1 it was all to play for."

Wenger added that the referee, "must absolutely never have played football to do that. I told him what I thought about his decision face to face."

He admitted that his team were beaten by "a terrific side, the best in Europe," but added: "I am convinced that if it had stayed 11 against 11 we could have won this tie tonight. It's very hard to accept."