Arsenal 5 v Porto 0 ( Arsenal win 6-2 on aggregate)

What was that phrase about a week being a long time in football? For Nicklas Bendtner, try four days. That was the time frame between his plethora of missed chances against Burnley on Saturday, which by Tuesday evening became a blissfully horrible memory. Bendtner returned his manager’s confidence in him with a stunning hat-trick to help Arsenal thrash Porto 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium.

Stunning
That shouldn’t be overlooked, but when you’re talking about the stunning strike from Samir Nasri that put Arsenal 3-0 up, then perhaps we could argue over what was the match highlight? In truth, there were many, and one to remember was the sight of substitute Emmanuel Eboue’s goal on the counter attack to make the score 4-0, after another assist from Andrey Arshavin. Bendtner had earlier been brave from Arshavin’s pass for the opener, and was at the end of a mesmerising run from the Russian to tap in to double the Gunners advantage. Arsenal now take their place in the Champions League quarter-final draw, and this victory will have the rest of Europe watching on and wanting to avoid the Gunners at the next stage of the world’s premier club competition.

Template
Porto had arrived in north London knowing that they were also thrashed at the Emirates Stadium last year in the group phase of this competition. Holding a controversial 2-1 lead from the first leg, the visitors played some slick passing moves that tested the Gunners’ rearguard, but it refused to be breached. Sol Campbell had more than his fair share of worrying moments, but recovered strongly. Arsenal opened the scoring on 10 minutes. Arshavin hared down the middle, got blocked, but Bendtner bravely followed up. The template for Arsenal’s second goal had been created by Arshavin moments earlier. Unlike before,  however, this time, Bendtner was in sole Arsenal attacker in the box, and he made no mistake from six yards out for his second of the night. Hulk and Campbell seemed to be having a duel in the middle, but Porto’s strong-arm tactics were getting them nowhere.

Fizz
In the absence of the injured captain Cesc Fabregas, Abou Diaby and Alex Song were in the middle. It was Diaby who found Nasri who was surrounded by three Porto defenders and in the corner, his options seemed to be limited. The France player however moved with quick feet to defy his many markers, before unleashing a scud missile like shot beyond the exposed Helton. A majestic strike and well worth the admission fee on it’s own. Arsenal were not finished there either. Eboue came on for Tomas Rosicky and his usual energy and fizz were an instant threat to Porto.

Perfect
When Arshavin broke clear, the Ivorian was up with the pace. Fed the perfect ball for Eboue to round Helton and cooly slot in with his left foot. All that was now needed was for Bendtner to complete his hat-trick. He headed just wide from Bacary Sagna’s cross on 83 minutes, but in the first minute of stoppage time, Eboue was upended in the area. Arsene Wenger later revealed that Nasri was his penalty taker with Arshavin the second. With his hat-trick in mind however, up stepped the rangy Dane to stroke past Helton to crown a perfect night for him and for Arsenal.

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