Champions League - Arsenal through on penalties

Eurosport - Thu, 12 Mar 10:11:00 2009

Arsenal beat Roma after a penalty shoot-out decided their Champions League las-16 tie which ended 1-1 on aggregate at Stadio Olimpico.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Champions League Roma-Arsenal - 0

The Italian side's one-goal deficit was eroded by Juan's ninth-minute header, before the game drifted to penalties, with the Gunners winning 7-6 - the highest-scoring shoot-out in Champions League history.

Arsene Wenger began with Eduardo confined to the bench, and Nicklas Bendtner leading the forward line along, but the visitors saw their 1-0 lead from the first leg at the Emirates wiped out startlingly early.

Roma defender Juan capitalised on some slack marking as both William Gallas and Kolo Toure allowed Francesco Totti's cross to escape them, before the lanky defender slotted past Manuel Almunia from close range.

Rodrigo Taddei was feted by his team-mates in the celebrations for a deft dummy in the lead up to the goal which enabled Juan to find space beyond the diving Gael Clichy.

Gallas had a chance to atone for his error with a free header from close range 10 minutes later, but the angle was tight as the defender stole in at the back post, and Doni gathered relatively comfortably.

Taddei, who was a constant threat, then had two rasping efforts saved by Almunia after cutting in from the right wing, before a third shot was fired in by Mirko Vucinic as the Spanish keeper was kept occupied.

Samir Nasri, who had fleeting moments of inspiration on either wing, picked out Robin van Persie from out on the right, just before half-time, but the Dutchman's header sailed innocuously over the bar after he was left unmarked in the penalty area.

On the stroke of the break, Roma had their clamorous appeals for a penalty rejected by referee Mejuto Gonzalez, as Marco Motta appeared to be clipped by Clichy inside the box: replays suggest that Arsenal could count themselves lucky.

Former Arsenal forward Julio Baptista was introduced in place of Juan, who sustained an injury, and the Brazilian almost doubled Roma's lead on the night in the 81st minute when he slid to meet Motta's cross, but failed to connect cleanly.

Bacary Sagna has a free header inside the box saved by Doni - another good chance for Arsenal which they should have converted.

Theo Walcott was introduced midway through the second half, and the pacey winger immediately proved a nuisance for John Arne Riise - who was already cursing the pace of Sagna down that flank - twisting the Norwegian inside out.

Then on the stroke of full-time, Toure had a point-blank chance to win the tie for Arsenal with a header from close range which drifted agonisingly wide of Doni's near post after Van Persie had flicked the ball on from Nasri's cross.

A superb one-two between Van Persie and Walcott in extra-time almost saw the Englishman get in behind the retreating Max Tonetto, but the Italian muscled him off the ball impressively.

With penalties looming, Arsenal squandered numerous promising positions, as their hosts dropped deeper and deeper into their own half, seemingly content to wait for the impending shoot-out, with Vincenzo Montella brought on for the occasion.

Eduardo was the first man to step up, but his tame effort was comfortably saved by Doni, but the Brazilian was reprieved by Vucinic's miss, before Van Persie, Walcott, Nasri, Denilson, Toure, Sagna and Abou Diaby all then scored for the Gunners, leaving Tonetto to hand them victory.

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport

Comment 90 - 109 of 129

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  1. Why has comment 104 been allowed here? This blog is­ supposed to be about Arsenal and Roma noy Manchester­ Utd and Liverpool. Those who think Arsenal were­ fortunate to go through forget the first leg when­ Arsenal should have sealed the tie. Never the less well­ done for showing resiliance and team spirit which has­ been lacking this season. Maybe we can achieve­ something this season, we all hope.

    From j.essaye, on Thu 12 Mar 9:54AM

  2. THANKS ARSENAL I BELEIVE YOU CAN WIN IT..... LOT OF­ ARSENAL HATERS OUT THERE .

    From boylerob53, on Thu 12 Mar 9:51AM

  3. lol even more @ post 107 hahahaha.

    From Big, on Thu 12 Mar 9:50AM

  4. lol@ post 106.

    From Big, on Thu 12 Mar 9:49AM

  5. Mr or Madame comment 106, u are so naive, in ur­ judgement. Any player in any team is deemed qualify by­ the manager to play in the team. Yes, some players can­ make a difference but that's no excuse, beside­ it's not a garantee that they would make a­ significant impact in every game they play. Some­ beginners do much more better, as they are fighting to­ establish themselves. Ur argument cd be made by Arsenal­ as well. They were without Fabregas, Adebayor n­ Rosicky, while Eduardo n Walcott r equally returning­ from long term injuries. Stop being jeolous, accept­ defeat and acknowledge the fact that Arsenal is a far­ more superior team to Roma n the English league is the­ best n toughest in the universe.

    From joe, on Thu 12 Mar 9:46AM

  6. Post 100

    Must be a Tottenham supporter! Sounds a bit­ upset. I think I would be if my team had spent the­ millions they have and still produce a rubbish side!

    From moondog100, on Thu 12 Mar 9:39AM
  7. Comment hidden due to it's low rating. Show

    Uh Uh is there anyone with a brain? Roma was missing­ FIVE of its players (Panucci Cicinho Mexes De Rossi­ Perrotta - 3 are in the italian national team) plus­ Juan after 15 minutes. Pizarro and Totti were already­ seriously injured, Aquilani was at first game after 2­ months. Arsenal won at penalties against LESS THAN HALF­ ROMA. With just De Rossi and Mexes it would have badly­ lost.
    Rejoice, but you won t go anywhere.

    From clauser1976, on Thu 12 Mar 9:15AM

  8. arsenal got a scare from roma but thats cos arsenal are­ missing on there caption fabregas.. and he will be back­ for the next fixture so WE ARE GONNA WIN FOR SURE
    GO­ ARSENAL!!!

    From suryakanta.halder, on Thu 12 Mar 9:11AM

  9. shut fergie up c,mon liverpool you can win knock em for­ sixyou,ll never walk alone

    From ohare595, on Thu 12 Mar 9:02AM

  10. There must be some total morons who write on here,What­ sort of schoolboy uses words like SCUM ,TOSSERS, and­ sentances with words like `WIV U LOT` and other such­ tribal clap trap ,i can only take from some of the­ words put on here that there must be some very low­ achieving numpties adding to a forum that should be­ about the game of football.
    Please if you can not write­ in proper words go and get onto a `learning ladders`­ site and educate your disturbed minds.
    Now the game­ Well despite Theo and Eduardo back in [we still dont­ miss Ady]it was a lucky night for us Gunners,The boys­ will need to play a better game to get it over­ Barcelona or one of the big 3 English Clubs I hate the­ thought of us meeting United in there form.

    From pnikev2000, on Thu 12 Mar 9:00AM

  11. Gunners will win it. It's their turn. All the rest­ can be beaten, and the Gunners will beat them to win­ the Champions League. Amazing....but true.

    From Kevin H, on Thu 12 Mar 8:57AM

  12. Quote ..."The Italian side's one-goal deficit­ was eroded by Juan's ninth-minute­ header"????Did you watch a different game? Juan­ drove a low shot under Almunia at the far left of the­ goal after a defensive mix-up///Get it right­ Dan/Eurosport

    From atebe, on Thu 12 Mar 8:45AM
  13. Comment hidden due to it's low rating. Show

    your a joke thats as far as u r going, hope u get barca­ and henry puts you out you scum team

    From terry, on Thu 12 Mar 8:43AM

  14. Roma's goal wasn't a 9th minute­ "header" unless Juan is only 4 inches­ high?

    I thought the standard of penalty taking was­ very high from both sides,
    but, let's be honest,­ Arsenal will need to play better than this to progress­
    further.

    From Habanero, on Thu 12 Mar 8:20AM

  15. I have never lost faith in our players and manager. The­ gunners are in the last 8 for serious business and they­ have made that poitnt clear with Roma. Our critics will­ be told at the end of the day that football is a game­ of skill and not all money money.

    From sylvanus ned, on Thu 12 Mar 8:18AM

  16. I have never lost faith in our players and manager. The­ gunners are in the last 8 for serious business and they­ have made that poitnt clear with Roma. Our critics will­ be told at the end of the day that football is a game­ of skill and not all money money.

    From sylvanus ned, on Thu 12 Mar 8:13AM

  17. Arsenal rule no one is has better as them and we are­ going to win the champpions league

    ­ ARSENAL RULE FOR LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Joe, on Thu 12 Mar 8:10AM

  18. WELL DONE ARSENAL!!!! I THINK NOW YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE­ IN YOUR PLAY YOU NEED TO TAKE IT INTO THE PREMIERSHIP!

    From joerileygreen, on Thu 12 Mar 8:03AM

  19. i am also a arsenal from sierra leone it will be better­ for wenger to buy players come next season to­ strenghten the team all the same my boys did very well­ last night by sending roma out of the compitition bravo­ to all arsenal fan from hassan mukhni

    From khalill, on Thu 12 Mar 7:59AM

  20. That was a game to forget.
    Roma were poor and could­ barely match Arsenal through out the game playing like­ the away team.
    Arsenal had control and most of the­ ball, but they lacked ideas in midfield and worse up­ front.
    in the next game, they are playing the best­ football at the moment.

    From El-Tony., on Thu 12 Mar 7:55AM
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