Nicklas Bendtner scored a hat-trick as Arsenal thrashed Porto 5-0 to over-turn a 2-1 first leg deficit and reach the Champions League quarter-finals in style.Arsenal needed just 10 minutes to take the lead on the night and go ahead in the tie on away goals.
Samir Nasri played a ball down the middle for Andrey Arshavin to chase and when a defender took it away from the Russian, Bendtner found himself perfectly placed to find the net.
Arshavin was the architect of the second in the 25th minute, beating three men down the left before setting up the Dane for a tap-in.
Porto goalkeeper Helton made a number of saves before the break to keep his side in the tie.
The visitors looked more dangerous after the break but were sunk by two goals in quick succession, first from Nasri, a fine solo effort, and then Emmanuel Eboue, the substitute, on the counter attack, with Bendtner making it 5-0 in stoppage time from the penalty spot.
REACTION:
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger declared he would be more than happy if his side was paired with either Manchester United of Chelsea in the next round.
Both sides had beaten the Gunners comprehensively in the Premier League this season and Wenger wanted revenge. He said: "I fancy us to go through in the quarter finals. We can't chose either of those sides but if I could I would say yes. If we do get one of them we can hardly do any worse than we did in the championship."
Wenger praised Bendtner for his performance, which came straight after a dismal display against Burnley at the weekend which saw him miss a string of seemingly easy chances.
He said: "It shows you how football can change in three days. And it shows he hadn't lost confidence. He came back with the same focus and the same belief and that is one of his strengths."
The Dane was fortunate to notch a hat-trick however, the Frenchman revealed. He said: "He was the number three penalty taker. Nasri was number one and Arshavin number two and it was lucky for him that they were not on the pitch."
Wenger also had words of encouragement for Nasri, who had been deployed in central midfield in the absence of the injured Cesc Fabregas.
He said: "He is developing very well. What he showed in this game he had shown in training and I expected that to come out in the game. He is a player with talent."
Fabregas will go straight back into the team when fit however, with the Spaniard currently rated at 50-50 to recover in time for Saturday's clash with Hull.
Wenger said: "He is a great player and if he had played tonight we would have done even better. It is important he comes back as soon as possible. When Fabregas comes back, Nasri will play wide."
Porto manager Jesualdo Ferreira said he believed Arsenal were good enough to win the competition. He said: "I think so. They have the best attack in the Premier League."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
In a big rush as Porto were blown away from the start. The visitors were second best for 80 of the 90 minutes and only looked like stemming the tide directly after half-time when an away goal would have changed the tie's complexion. It never came and when Nasri made it 3-0 there was no way back for Porto, who will look back at this tie and be forced to admit they got exactly what they deserved. Bendtner will probably never have three easier goals although he deserves credit firstly for being in the right place at the right time and secondly because they followed directly after a game where nothing went right for him. Arsenal were slicker throughout and thoroughly deserved it.
WHAT IT MEANS:
That Arsenal can win this competition. Can, not will, but with Nasri and Arshavin playing like this anything is possible. And it also proved that the Gunners can function without Fabregas. To the Emirates faithful it also proved what they have already decided a long time ago - that Wenger knows best. The Frenchman said all along his side would prevail despite those avoidable setbacks in the first leg and, not for the first time this season, he was proven right. Afterwards he hinted he believed his players were ready to knock out English opposition from this competition - they were out-played in the semis by United last season - and may get a chance to test his theory straight away. As for Porto, this showing illuminated just why they are trailing Benfica in the Portuguese league, which is hardly Europe's most competitive
QUOTABLE:
"It didn't happen for me on Saturday but I put that behind me and today I put it right."
- There's no arguing with Bendtner as he gets it spot on during and after the match.
ARSENAL 5 (Bendtner 10, 25, 90 (pen); Nasri 63; Eboue 65) PORTO 0
PLAYER MARKING:
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Almunia 8; Sagna 7, Vermaelen 9, Campbell 7, Clichy 7; Song 8, Diaby 7; Rosicky 7 (Eboue 58, 7), Nasri 9 (Denilson 74, 6), Arshavin 9 (Walcott 77, 6); Bendtner 9.
Subs not used: Fabianski, Eduardo, Silvestre, Traore.
Porto (4-3-3): Helton 9; Fucile 6, Rolando 6, Bruno Alves 6, Pereira 6; Ruben Micael 6 (Guarin 77, 5), Coelho 6 (Rodriguez, 46, 6), Raul Meireles 6; Varela 6 (Gonzalez 77, 5), Falcao 7, Hulk 6.
Subs not used: Nuno, Belluschi, Maicon, Lopes.
ATTENDANCE: 59,661
NEXT UP:
- Arsenal v Hull (Away), Premier League 13/03, 1730 GMT
MAN OF THE MATCH:
Sami Nasri (Arsenal): Arshavin was magnificent and Bendtner proved his critics wrong after a host of misses at the weekend against Burnley, for a week at least, but the night belonged to Nasri as it was he who had been handed the unenviable task of filling the boots of injured skipper Cesc Fabregas. And how well he did that.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Arsenal were just magnificent tonight!
iv gotta admit, i am one of those fans that is still unsure about bendtner but hats off to him tonight, great performance and hopefully there will be more to come.
A magnificent performance indeed from the Gunners. But you have 2 admit though, Porto were there for the taking. As far as showing grit, determination was concerned, they were seriously lacking, save for a couple of genuine attempts at goal. Stoke would have provided far stiffer resistance tonight.
But I'm absolutely not taking anything away from the Arsenal- they did what they had to do-that was wipe the floor with them. I think it was also good that they did all this without Cesc: this gives the team that extra self belief. Everyone was putting in the hours.
As for Nicklas, he DID bring along his shooting boots after all...
I have a sneaky feeling too that Wenger could be right here about playing Man U or Chelsea at some point, that's if they do manage to progress.
Am very proud Arsenal lads player very well well done keep up nx around =))
Well done the gooners, Nasri was on good form all night, Arshavin was looking quick again, and Bendtner was fighting for everything last night, well done and keep it up. You can go further and do it this year.