Arsenal 5 - 0 FC Porto: Arsenal cruise into quarter-finals

Published on Tuesday 9 March 2010 22:19

NICKLAS Bendtner's hat-trick helped Arsenal make history in emphatic style at the Emirates Stadium by overturning Porto's first leg lead to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Arsene Wenger's men, without the influence of injured pair Cesc Fabregas and William Gallas, came back from an opening leg deficit in a European tie for the first time since 1978.

Bendtner made up for his wastefulness at the weekend, while Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Eboue added the other goals.

Bendtner opened the scoring in the tenth minute. Nasri put the ball in the area, with Andrey Arshavin racing through on goal. The Russian and Porto defender Fucile crashed into goalkeeper Helton and the ball broke for Bendtner to tap home. Bendtner's second, in the 25th minute was equally simple, this time tapping home after Arshavin's rifled cross..

It was Nasri who added the third when Arsenal counter-attacked. Nothing looked on when he picked the ball up on the right flank but he beat Meireles, Alvaro Pereira and Rodriguez before smashing past Helton from a tight angle.

It was 4-0 on the night when Arshavin broke from a corner, muscling past the hapless Fucile then threading the ball behind Meireles, allowing Eboue to round Helton and finish into an empty net.

Bendtner had the chance for the treble from the spot in stoppage time when Eboue was brought down – and he coolly tucked his penalty away.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Campbell, Vermaelen, Clichy, Nasri (Denilson 72), Song, Diaby, Rosicky (Eboue 57), Bendtner, Arshavin (Walcott 76). Subs not used: Fabianski, Eduardo, Silvestre, Traore. Booked: Vermaelen, Bendtner.

FC Porto: Helton, Fucile, Rolando, Bruno Alves, Pereira, Ruben Micael (Guarin 76), Coelho (Rodriguez 46), Raul Meireles, Varela (Gonzalez 75), Falcao, Hulk. Subs not used: Nuno, Belluschi, Maicon, Miguel Lopes. Booked: Falcao, Pereira, Fucile.

Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium).

Attendance: 59,661.