Nicklas Bendtner grabbed a hat-trick as Arsenal cruised into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with an emphatic victory over Porto at the Emirates Stadium last night.
The game featured a fabulous goal by Samir Nasri which will take some beating in this, or any other, competition.
The Gunners were trailing 2-1 from the first leg and had to do without injured captain Cesc Fabregas.
The Gunners went ahead after 10 minutes. In tracking back, Porto defender Fucile clattered into his keeper, and Bendtner was first to react, stabbing the loose ball into the empty net.
Porto were undone again on 25 minutes. Fucile’s poor clearance was latched on to by Arshavin. The diminutive Russian weaved into the left side of the penalty box, before pulling the ball back along the six-yard box to Bendtner, who just could not miss.
Helton touched Bendtner’s curling effort around the post. From the corner, Diaby’s downward header was clawed away by the Porto keeper, who also denied Nasri in stoppage time.
There was a scare at the start of the second half when Tomas Rosicky gave the ball away to Hulk, but fortunately for the Czech winger, the Porto striker was again off target.
Almunia then had to be on his toes as Falcao drove in a low snapshot, which the Spaniard gathered at the second attempt.
Rosicky, who appeared to be carrying a knee problem, was replaced by Emmanuel Eboue just before the hour as Wenger looked to breathe new life into his side. Arsenal, though, were anything but convincing at the back – with Nasri clearing a header from substitute Cristian Rodriguez off the line.
The Frenchman, however, then settled any nerves with a quite brilliant individual goal after 64 minutes.
After collecting the ball just outside the area on the right, Nasri twisted past three Porto defenders before drilling a low shot in off the far post from the tightest of angles.
Safe passage to the quarter-finals was assured three minutes later when, following a Porto corner, Arshavin broke quickly down the left, holding the ball up before releasing the on-rushing Eboue, who rounded the keeper and stroked in a fourth.
Porto had lost here 4-0 in the group stages last season, which was their worst away reverse in the competition.
And over the final 20 minutes, it was a case of damage limitation for Jesualdo Ferreira’s men. Nasri was given a well-earned rest as he left the field to a standing ovation, replaced by defensive midfielder Denilson.
Fellow substitute Theo Walcott looked lively after he came on for Arshavin, and Bendtner headed a good hat-trick chance wide.
Eboue was brought down for by Fucile to concede a penalty in the final minute - which the young Dane stroked into the bottom corner to collect the match ball.