By Jonathan Liew 1017PM GMT 09 March 2010
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Goal of the season? Samir Nasri creates it 3-0 to Arsenal Photo GETTY IMAGES 
First red blood Nicklas Bendtner celebrates giving Arsenal the lead Photo AFP 
England expects Arsene Wenger will rely on Sol Campbell and Theo Walcott tonight Photo GETTY IMAGES Full time Arsenal 5-0 Porto (aggregate 6-2)
22.11 It was one of those dreamy, rounded off fragile European nights. The kind where Champions League football appears to exist on a utterly conflicting plane. At times examination Arsenal was identical to examination a computer game, or a Nike advert. It was tough to credit that such meticulously synchronised transformation could ever begin spontaneously. But some-more than that, it was a opening to have Europe lay up and watch, and you can review the compare inform here. Tomorrow night it"s the spin of Manchester United and AC Milan. Hopefully you"ll be means to stick on us at the same time tomorrow. See you soon.
Arsenal v FC Porto compare stats Debate can Arsenal right afar win the Double? Fiorentina v Bayern Munich live Portsmouth v Birmingham live Sunderland v Bolton live William Gallas blow for Arsenal22.04 You could have got 40/1 prior to the diversion on Bendtner to measure a hat-trick. Given that he"d played 163 games to this point and had never scored some-more than twice, that seems a bagatelle skinny. Still, if you won income on that, I salute your faith. You are the people keeping homeopathy in business.
22.01 Bayern Munich have additionally requisitioned their place in the quarter-final after winning on afar goals conflicting Fiorentina. The tie accomplished 3-2 to Fiorentina on the night, 4-4 on aggregate. A Darren Bent hat-trick has helped Sunderland to a 4-0 win conflicting Bolton, culmination a winless run stretching at the at the at the at the behind of of of of to November, whilst a late idea from Kanu at the developed old age of 55 has unsuccessful to forestall Portsmouth from slipping to a 2-1 home improved conflicting Birmingham.
Arsene Wenger "Nasri"s idea to have it 3-0 finished a big difference, and from afterwards on it was easier. That idea was particular brilliance, but altogether it was a plain group performance. We played, as we can do, with a fluent, pacy game. I idea Bendtner"s hat-trick will not give him as well majority confidence, but I"m happy for him. I idea it gives him the enterprise to work even harder. I have a droll feeling that may be it"s good for us to fool around an English group in the quarter-final, as we have not finished well conflicting Chelsea and Manchester United this year."
21.50 Throughout that interview, Bendtner was cast of characters undetermined glances downwards. As the camera panned out, we saw why. Bendtner had been wondering the total time because his interviewer was holding a football. "I don"t know how it works," he pronounced as the turn was handed to him. Ah, bless. He"s never scored a hat-trick before, you see. Few have so adeptly articulated a lifetime of underachievement in a couple of short words.
Hat-trick prime Nicklas Bendtner "It"s fantastic. Sometimes it"s one of those days for you. I"m happy with my hat-trick but tomorrow, it"s forgotten. This gives us a lot of confidence. We"d do anything to try to win the Champions League, as it"s something we haven"t done."
21.47 Wow, wasn"t that a sight? Arsenal in full, frightening upsurge infrequently need to be seen to be believed. There was a jarred duration of may be 10 mins possibly side of half time when Porto could feasible have hauled themselves in to it. But a lethal duration of 90 seconds hermetic the diversion for Arsenal. A smashing idea by Nasri, a unqualified opening by Arshavin, and a hat-trick so doubtful it honestly defies physics. Now, can they go and win the total thing?
90+1 min Look, Nicklas Bendtner, I"m unequivocally sorry. How was I to know you were going to measure a hat-trick? You"d never finished it before. And you were so hilariously horrible at the weekend. But, to steal the prime word of around dual thirds of football managers, that"s football. Never fails to surprise. Eboue is bundled over in the area and the Dane tucks afar simply for twelve yards to lay his explain to the compare ball. His initial compare ball. Referee Frank de Bleeckere decides that he"s had sufficient and grants Porto a jot of amiability by floating the alarm early.
GOAL Arsenal 5-0 Porto (Bendtner pen)
89 min PENALTY TO ARSENAL
88 min I know this is the Champions League, and not a 1970s diversion show, but it would be a small oppressive on Porto if they were to leave the Emirates tonight empty-handed.
87 min Arsenal follow a fifth, that unequivocally would be impressive. Diaby runs at Porto, but blue and white shirts close on him and he loses it. Walcott afterwards goes on a run down the right, but his cranky is cut out by Helton.
86 min Falcao crosses for Porto, who haven"t tired, but it"s a tad as well prolonged for Hulk.
82 min Meanwhile in Florence, let"s usually contend the compare has changed on a bit. Bayern Munich pulled a idea at the at the at the at the behind of of of of by Van Bommel, Jovetic put Fiorentina at the at the at the at the behind of of of of up on aggregate, but Arjen Robben has right afar finished it 3-2 to Fiorentina, that would put Bayern by on afar goals. Meanwhile, Nicklas Bendtner has a platinum-gilded possibility to finish his initial ever comparison hat-trick, but heads far-reaching from 6 yards. Normal have use of has been resumed.
Henry Winter on Twitter "Two noted goals display range of weapons in the Arsenal armoury. Nasri leap afterwards Eboue breakaway. Magical."
79 min Goodness, Walcott"s quick. He races after Song by turn he has positively no right to get to, and rounded off creates it, winning a corner. It"s cleared.
76 min Porto are withdrawal outrageous gaps at the at the at the at the behind of of of of them. Walcott breaks and tries a curling left-foot shot from twenty-five yards, that is deflected behind. Helton comes for the corner, but he doesn"t get there and Song heads wide! Perhaps Helton got a hold in, as it"s an additional corner. From it, Sagna is flagged for a foul.
73 min Porto obviously rate their chances of scoring 3 goals in seventeen mins as value the risk of removing brutally humiliated, as they press bodies forward. They have use of their last dual substitutions, Guarin and Gonzalez entrance on for Micael and Varela. Meanwhile for Arsenal, Theo Walcott is entrance on for the exquisite Andrey Arshavin. Wenger gives the Russian a curtsy as he collects his warm-up top. Coming from the emotionally taken Wenger, that"s rounded off homogeneous to a feet massage.
72 min Still Arsenal come forward. Arshavin chips it in to the area. It comes out to Sagna, who blazes it over.
69 min Songs of feat and service whizz by the north London air. The throng climb as one to appluad Nasri, who comes off to be transposed by Denilson.
Ed on e-mail "Two shining goals for the man who unexpected looks identical to one he competence be the majority feared strikers in South Africa this summer. OK, so Nasri"s bid was fancy, and that last renew wasn"t bad. But what about the good Dane"s purpose in both goals? He was usually out of shot, admittedly, but you can gamble his perfect participation was terrorising the Portuguese."
66 min Until subsequent time then, Porto. Lethal conflicting conflict from Arsenal as they come afar with a Porto corner. Arshavin unwinds his frightening gait prior to slipping Eboue by with a pass that, in gait and angle, redefines perfection. Eboue rounds Helton and finishes. It"s a subjection now. A glorious, gorgeous rout.
GOAL Arsenal 4-0 Porto (Eboue)
64 min Nasri has scored a smashing idea here, dancing by the Porto counterclaim from the right palm side. Meireles and Pereira are in attendance, but he simply shakes them off identical to over-zealous designation hunters. He faces Helton at a parsimonious angle, and gives it a terrifying bump that clatters off the post and in.
GOAL Arsenal 3-0 Porto (Nasri) Oh my word, that"s usually brilliant.
61 min Fiorentina have left 2-0 up on Bayern Munich, that puts them 3-2 up on total as well. Sagna curls in a dangerous cross, but Helton comes out to catch.
59 min Corner for Porto, and Rodriguez gets the header in! Almunia"s nowhere, but Sami Nasri on the post manages to get an extruded thigh at the at the at the at the behind of of of of the turn to keep it out.
57 min Hulk is carrying utterly a bit of happiness down the Porto left conflicting Sagna here. He gets to the byline and crosses for Falcao, but it whizzes inexperienced the face of goal. As Arsenal come afar with it, Pereira gets a yellow label and will miss the initial leg of the quarter-final, if Porto have it.
55 min Nasri has a free-kick from the right, it comes out to Arshavin who shoots. Helson parries, afterwards frantically grabs the miscarry as Bendtner closes in. That was dauntless work. Emmanuel Eboue comes on for Rosicky.
54 min Porto have their majority appropriate chance! Varela bursts down the left and picks oit Falcao. The shot, left-footed from twelve yards, is extreme and low, but true at Almunia. A at the at the at the behind of of of yard possibly side and Arsenal would have been in genuine trouble. But for all their considerable fool around here, Porto"s sharpened has been a bit poor.
52 min Calamity down the Arsenal right rounded off let in Porto there. Rosicky plays it at the at the at the at the behind of of of of for Song, but he"s not awaiting the pass, and Hulk wins it. The Brazilian"s shot, though, is high and wide.
51 min Rodriguez came on for Coelho at half-time for Porto, a pointer of Porto"s intent. He"s personification a small deeper than normal, but will no disbelief try and couple the midfield with the front 3 prior to creation a lurch for the 18-yard box himself.
49 min Song loses it to Falcao in midfield. Hulk plays it at the at the at the at the behind of of of of to Meireles, who rises it in to the second tier. But Porto"s rave has been intelligent, and this tie"s far from over.
47 min Rosicky"s free-kick from the right is glanced behind. Helton punches the dilemma afar on the line and tries to begin a conflicting attack, but Vermaelen sees the risk and knocks the turn at the at the at the at the behind of of of of coolly to Almunia.
20.49 The players are out, and Hulk and Varela crop up to have substituted sides. Hulk will right afar fodder down the right, Varela on the left.
20.40 Is it the Night of the Bad Striker? Not usually has Bendtner put down an allege remuneration for the multiform dozen sitters he intends to miss in in between right afar and the finish of the season, but Cameron Jerome has additionally netted a prop for Birmingham, who lead Portsmouth 2-0 at Fratton Park, and Frazier Campbell has scored as Sunderland lead Bolton 1-0. Meanwhile, Juan Vargos has given Fiorentina the lead on the night conflicting Bayern Munich. That edges them brazen on afar goals.
Oliver on e-mail "First Walcott, right afar Bendtner. A week of salvaged reputations for Arsenal."
45+2 min More unreal using from Arshavin, winning a dilemma as he attempts to go turn Rolando. But that"s close from Nasri as his left-foot shot from twenty yards is parried by Helton. And that"s half time.
45 min Three mins of blocking time will be played, as a pass from Arshavin goes dangerously erroneous in the centre circle. Arsenal conduct to transparent eventually, but Arsene Wenger are going to have to residence Arsenal"s infrequent perspective towards receive at the break.
42 min You clarity Arsenal wish to finish this prior to half time. Bendtner collects a prolonged idea flog and slips it to Arshavin. The turn is played at the at the at the at the behind of of of of to the Dane, who tries to twist it turn Helton from twenty yards. It bounces awkwardly, and Helton has to pull it behind. From the corner, a improved save from the Brazilian screw as he gets down low to keep out a header from Diaby at the nearby post.
Henry Winter on Twitter "Bendtner"s incited in to Preben Elkjaer... dual good finishes by Arsenal"s Dane, though could frequency miss. Vindicated Wenger"s faith."
39 min Chance for Hulk as he capitalises on a finish Cygan of an attempted clearway by Clichy. Hulk has a run on goal, but he shoots when he should have crossed.
37 min Vermaelen"s not happy as he goes in to associate Belgian Frank de Bleeckere"s book for snapping at Falcao"s ankle. It was from behind, though, and he knows how pernickety these European refs get.
36 min Corner for Porto, who still see dangerous going forward. Bendtner heads away, but they win another. This, too, comes to zero but Arsenal will be worries at the approach Porto are means to run it with parole in to Arsenal territory.
34 min Again, Arsenal cut Porto open identical to a coupler potato. Great run from Nasri, and the ball"s pulled at the at the at the at the behind of of of of to an unmarked Arshavin fourteen yards out. Helton"s nowhere to be seen, but Arshavin blazes it over. Arshavin could have wrapped this tie right there.
32 min Audacious try by Hulk, who latches onto a bad clearway by Almunia and tries to throw him. But it"s well wide.
31 min Song bursts from midfield and slips it to Arshavin. This is liquid and harmful from Arsenal. Arshavin plays it by to Bendtner, but he"s offside.
29 min Campbell - who"s had a unsure begin - gives the turn afar to Falcao, but he"s saved by a small bad linesmanning (a word? Probably not), who flags the Colombian offside for being in an offside on all sides a couple of seconds earlier.
28 min Would you hold it? More intolerable fortifying from Porto, but what a good begin for Bendtner. To be fair, conjunction of his goals were usually Van Basten, but he was in on all sides when nobody else was. A free-kick from Arshavin is streamer true from the tip corner, but it"s plucked out of the air by Helton.
26 min Great fool around from Arshavin! Terrible clearway from Porto goes true to the Russian, who goes on one of those twisting, circuitous small runs that turns defences in to destroyed spectators. He squares for an unmarked Bendtner, and Arsenal lead on aggregate.
GOAL Arsenal 2-0 Porto (Bendtner)
24 min Yellow label for Falcao has he clatters in to the at the at the at the at the behind of of of of of Song. Only dual players are already on a yellow tonight Pereira for Porto, Clichy for Arsenal.
22 min There hasn"t been a good thoroughness of thoroughness so far, you competence say. Vermaelen was seething after Arsenal gave afar that last corner, but they still went to nap when Porto took it quickly. Hulk attempts to crack it by for Falcao, but the Belgian cuts it out.
21 min Diaby finds Arshavin on the left. His cross, low and whipped, is perfect, but there"s nobody on the finish of it.
20 min Great run by Falcao, slipping past Campbell. Varela has a chance, but it"s deflected behind. From the corner, Almunia has to have a rushed punch. Eventually Frank de Bleeckere"s alarm reprieves Arsenal.
18 min Although Arsenal will win if it stays identical to this, I can"t see that being the finish of tonight"s scoring. This is a quick, open diversion in in between dual teams who have shown positively no defensive aptitude whatsoever.
17 min Sagna is personification identical to an outside-right here, racing down the wing to win a corner. Nasri with in, and Diaby improvises a side-footed offshoot from around sixteen yards, but it"s narrowly over.
15 min The dilemma flashes all the approach conflicting the area! Arsenal can"t get it clear, and Varela has an additional possibility to cross. Finally, Arsenal head it away. That"s the initial square of fortifying Arsenal have had to do, and honesly? That wasn"t impressive.
14 min Porto are an glorious side when they get the abll down and fool around it. Arsenal unwisely let Hulk run at them, but the Brazilian can"t get a shot away, and it"s a corner.
13 min We"ve usually usually kicked off again, as Helton stayed down after the goal. He"s up again, though, and we can simulate on an additional emancipation for Nicklas Bendtner. For all the scorn he attracts from cheap, two-bob live bloggers, that"s his eighth idea of the season.
11 min Replays referred to Arshavin was a hold offside when going up for that header. But Porto can have no complaints about that goal. Rolando shouldn"t be losing consequential headers to people who still compensate kid rate at the cinema.
10 min Rolando loses a header to Arshavin, of all people. Rosicky plays the Russian by initial time, and though he"s tackled, Bendtner is on palm to tuck it in. That was usually what Arsenal indispensable early on.
GOAL Arsenal 1-0 Porto (Bendtner)
7 min The game"s hardly started, and already Arsenal are all over Porto identical to a French sauce here. A low cranky from Sagna finds Arshavin, whose header forces a good save from Helton.
6 min Nasri plays the turn by for Rosicky, who drags it back. Coelho clears, but it"s true to the feet of Nasri. Pulls the trigger! But it"s blocked. Great fool around from Arsenal.
5 min Worrying impulse for Arsene Wenger has Bacary Sagna gets a unpleasant daub on the ankle from Pereira. He hobbles off, but looks as though he"ll be OK to continue.
4 min Menacing begin from Arsenal. Clichy gets an additional cranky in, but this one"s headed away. Then a free-kick on the left gives Arshavin a possibility to pitch the turn in. Helton has to climb top to punch it away.
2 min First vigour from Arsenal. Song spreads it left for Clichy, whose cranky is hardly over the head of Bendtner. The Dane is underneath vigour tonight after personification identical to a foe leader conflicting Burnley at the weekend. A couple of wags have suggessted that the series on his shirt corresponds to the series of chances he needs to score. It"s 52.
19.45 The teams are out. Referee Frank de Bleeckere, who you competence (all right, probably won"t) recollect as the arbitrate from England"s World Cup diversion conflicting Ecuador in 2006, gets the diversion underneath way.
19.42 Tony Adams reckons Arsenal will need 3 goals to qualify. Wenger has picked a blisteringly aggressive side, with eleven players that identical to to go forward. Hopefully Manuel Almunia, at least, will suppress his aggressive instincts.
19.30 Perhaps surprisingly, Arsenal are slight favourites to qualify, according to the bookmakers. They"re in all accessible at 8/13 to win on the night and around 8/11 to have it to the quarter-finals. I reckon that"s a small tight, nonetheless the bookies are obviously reacting to a late flurry of nationalistic punters. I contend "patriotic". We"re rounded off at the theatre where the usually Englishman left at the Emirates is Arsene Wenger"s butler.
19.27 There"s one alternative compare in the Champions League tonight, and it"s as finely staid as this one Fiorentina take on Bayern Munich at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, additionally 2-1 down after the initial leg. Franck Ribery has jarred off an damage and takes his place on the wing for Bayern. Fiorentina have not reached the quarter-finals of this foe given 1970, in the days when there were no tangible matches. The formula were simply motionless by a row of administrators and members of the majority distinguished houses of Europe. Fiorentina were degraded in that quarter-final after a late involvement by Baron von Niedersachsen of Habsburg. Anyway, it"s been a while. You can review a compare preview.
19.18 While you"re watchful for kick-off, have a review of Jeremy Wilson"s compare preview. Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger has pronounced that he has "faith" in his misfiring striker Nicklas Bendtner, who is heading the line again tonight. Let"s usually check the compendium clarification of "faith" "Evidence of things not seen". Yep, sounds about right.
Henry Winter, newly-crowned Specialist Sports Journalist of the Year, on Twitter "Campbell starts. Arsenal will need his experience. No Theo. Rosicky far-reaching right. Maybe when Arshavin tires, Theo comes on."
19.11 Just in box you were wondering no, not that Maicon. The defender on Porto"s dais is Maicon Pereira Roque, a 21-year-old centre-half who they sealed last summer. He"s played 3 games for the club.
Porto (4-3-3) Helton; Fucile, Rolando, Bruno Alves, Pereira; Ruben Micael, Coelho, Raul Meireles; Varela, Rodriguez, Hulk. Subs Nuno, Guarin, Belluschi, Falcao, Gonzalez, Maicon, Miguel Lopes.
Arsenal (4-1-2-3) Almunia; Sagna, Campbell, Vermaelen, Clichy; Song; Nasri, Diaby; Rosicky, Bendtner, Arshavin. Subs Fabianski, Silvestre, Traore, Eboue, Denilson, Eduardo, Walcott.
19.05 Of course, a 1-0 feat would see Arsenal qualify. This time last year, they were in the conflicting situation, fortifying a 1-0 lead conflicting Roma in the Stadio Olimpico. They lost 1-0 and scraped by 7-6 on penalties. One thing"s for sure if we see a identical culmination tonight, I"m blank my last blood vessel home.
19.00 Welcome to Tuesday night"s Champions League live blog. In around 45 minutes, we"ll find out what Arsene Wenger"s ultimate fast of Arsenal thoroughbreds are finished of. They route Porto 2-1 on total going in to tonight"s diversion at the Emirates. They have never overturned a first-leg necessity in this foe before. Porto have won the Portuguese pretension 4 times in a row and were champions of Europe in 2004 underneath Jose whatsisname.
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