See how Arsenal's 5-0 victory over Porto in the Champions League unfolded, minute by minute.
Goal of the season?: Samir Nasri makes it 3-0
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Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Bendtner grabbed both first-half goals before a moment of brilliance from Samir Nasri and finish from substitute Emmanuel Eboue ended a nervous opening to the second period.
And Bendtner, who came under fire at the weekend for missing several chances against Burnley, secured his first career treble from the penalty spot in injury-time.
It was the most emphatic way for the tall Dane to answer his critics: not only demonstrating again the art of being in the right place at the right time, but also finishing almost every opportunity that fell his way.
Yet there were greater stars shining for the Gunners on an uplifting night in North London. Mercurial Russian Andrei Arshavin was brilliant, putting the opening strikes on a plate as well as the fourth for Eboue, while Nasri had a hand in the first and stunned the 60,000 crowd with a wonderful run and strike to seal the tie.
22.11 It was one of those dreamy, almost ethereal European nights. The kind where Champions League football appears to exist on a completely different plane. At times watching Arsenal was like watching a computer game, or a Nike advert. It was hard to credit that such meticulously synchronised movement could ever occur spontaneously. But more than that, it was a performance to make Europe sit up and watch, and you can read the match report here. Tomorrow night it's the turn of Manchester United and AC Milan. Hopefully you'll be able to join us at the same time tomorrow. See you soon.
22.04 You could have got 40/1 before the game on Bendtner to score a hat-trick. Given that he'd played 163 games to this point and had never scored more than twice, that seems a trifle skinny. Still, if you won money on that, I salute your faith. You are the people keeping homeopathy in business.
22.01 Bayern Munich have also booked their place in the quarter-final after winning on away goals against Fiorentina. The tie finished 3-2 to Fiorentina on the night, 4-4 on aggregate. A Darren Bent hat-trick has helped Sunderland to a 4-0 win against Bolton, ending a winless run stretching back to November, while a late goal from Kanu at the ripe old age of 55 has failed to prevent Portsmouth from slipping to a 2-1 home defeat against Birmingham.
Arsene Wenger: "Nasri's goal to make it 3-0 made a big difference, and from then on it was easier. That goal was individual brilliance, but overall it was a solid team performance. We played, as we can do, with a fluent, pacy game. I hope Bendtner's hat-trick will not give him too much confidence, but I'm happy for him. I hope it gives him the desire to work even harder. I have a funny feeling that maybe it's good for us to play an English team in the quarter-final, as we have not done well against Chelsea and Manchester United this year."
21.50 Throughout that interview, Bendtner was casting puzzled glances downwards. As the camera panned out, we saw why. Bendtner had been wondering the whole time why his interviewer was holding a football. "I don't know how it works," he said as the ball 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 few short words.
Hat-trick hero 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 flow sometimes need to be seen to be believed. There was a nervous period of maybe 10 minutes either side of half time when Porto could conceivably have hauled themselves into it. But a deadly period of 90 seconds sealed the game for Arsenal. A wonderful goal by Nasri, a consummate performance by Arshavin, and a hat-trick so unlikely it genuinely defies physics. Now, can they go and win the whole thing?
90+1 min Look, Nicklas Bendtner, I'm really sorry. How was I to know you were going to score a hat-trick? You'd never done it before. And you were so hilariously awful at the weekend. But, to borrow the favourite phrase of around two thirds of football managers, that's football. Never fails to surprise. Eboue is bundled over in the area and the Dane tucks away easily for 12 yards to lay his claim to the match ball. His first match ball. Referee Frank de Bleeckere decides that he's had enough and grants Porto a modicum of humanity by blowing the whistle 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 game show, but it would be a little harsh on Porto if they were to leave the Emirates tonight empty-handed.
87 min Arsenal chase a fifth, which really would be impressive. Diaby runs at Porto, but blue and white shirts close on him and he loses it. Walcott then goes on a run down the right, but his cross is cut out by Helton.
86 min Falcao crosses for Porto, who haven't tired, but it's a tad too long for Hulk.
82 min Meanwhile in Florence, let's just say the match has moved on a bit. Bayern Munich pulled a goal back through Van Bommel, Jovetic put Fiorentina back up on aggregate, but Arjen Robben has now made it 3-2 to Fiorentina, which would put Bayern through on away goals. Meanwhile, Nicklas Bendtner has a platinum-gilded chance to complete his first ever senior hat-trick, but heads wide from six yards. Normal service has been resumed.
Henry Winter on Twitter: "Two memorable goals showing range of weapons in the Arsenal armoury. Nasri dribble then Eboue breakaway. Magical."
79 min Goodness, Walcott's quick. He races after Song through ball he has absolutely no right to get to, and almost makes it, winning a corner. It's cleared.
76 min Porto are leaving huge gaps behind them. Walcott breaks and tries a curling left-foot shot from 25 yards, which is deflected behind. Helton comes for the corner, but he doesn't get there and Song heads wide! Perhaps Helton got a touch in, as it's another corner. From it, Sagna is flagged for a foul.
73 min Porto clearly rate their chances of scoring three goals in 17 minutes as worth the risk of getting brutally humiliated, as they press bodies forward. They use their last two substitutions, Guarin and Gonzalez coming on for Micael and Varela. Meanwhile for Arsenal, Theo Walcott is coming on for the incomparable Andrey Arshavin. Wenger gives the Russian a nod as he collects his warm-up top. Coming from the emotionally unavailable Wenger, that's roughly equivalent to a foot massage.
72 min Still Arsenal come forward. Arshavin chips it into the area. It comes out to Sagna, who blazes it over.
69 min Songs of victory and relief whizz through the north London air. The crowd rise as one to appluad Nasri, who comes off to be replaced by Denilson.
Ed on e-mail: "Two brilliant goals for the man who suddenly looks like one he might be the most feared strikers in South Africa this summer. OK, so Nasri's effort was fancy, and that last counter-attack wasn't bad. But what about the great Dane's role in both goals? He was just out of shot, admittedly, but you can bet his sheer presence was terrorising the Portuguese."
66 min Until next time then, Porto. Lethal counter attack from Arsenal as they come away with a Porto corner. Arshavin unwinds his frightening pace before slipping Eboue through with a pass that, in pace and angle, redefines perfection. Eboue rounds Helton and finishes. It's a rout now. A glorious, dazzling rout.
GOAL Arsenal 4-0 Porto (Eboue)
64 min Nasri has scored a wonderful goal here, dancing through the Porto defence from the right hand side. Meireles and Pereira are in attendance, but he simply shakes them off like over-zealous autograph hunters. He faces Helton at a tight angle, and gives it a terrifying thump that clatters off the post and in.
GOAL Arsenal 3-0 Porto (Nasri) Oh my word, that's just brilliant.
61 min Fiorentina have gone 2-0 up on Bayern Munich, which puts them 3-2 up on aggregate 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 behind the ball to keep it out.
57 min Hulk is having quite a bit of joy down the Porto left against Sagna here. He gets to the byline and crosses for Falcao, but it whizzes untouched the face of goal. As Arsenal come away with it, Pereira gets a yellow card and will miss the first leg of the quarter-final, if Porto make it.
55 min Nasri has a free-kick from the right, it comes out to Arshavin who shoots. Helson parries, then frantically grabs the rebound as Bendtner closes in. That was brave work. Emmanuel Eboue comes on for Rosicky.
54 min Porto have their best chance! Varela bursts down the left and picks oit Falcao. The shot, left-footed from 12 yards, is fierce and low, but straight at Almunia. A yard either side and Arsenal would have been in real trouble. But for all their impressive play here, Porto's shooting has been a bit poor.
52 min Calamity down the Arsenal right almost let in Porto there. Rosicky plays it back for Song, but he's not expecting 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 sign of Porto's intent. He's playing a little deeper than normal, but will no doubt try and link the midfield with the front three before making a dash for the 18-yard box himself.
49 min Song loses it to Falcao in midfield. Hulk plays it back to Meireles, who lifts it into the second tier. But Porto's build-up 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 corner away on the line and tries to start a counter attack, but Vermaelen sees the danger and knocks the ball back coolly to Almunia.
20.49 The players are out, and Hulk and Varela appear to have swapped sides. Hulk will now forage down the right, Varela on the left.
20.40 Is it the Night of the Bad Striker? Not only has Bendtner put down an advance payment for the several dozen sitters he intends to miss between now and the end of the season, but Cameron Jerome has also netted a brace 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 against Bayern Munich. That edges them ahead on away goals.
Oliver on e-mail: "First Walcott, now Bendtner. A week of salvaged reputations for Arsenal."
45+2 min More dreamy running from Arshavin, winning a corner as he attempts to go round Rolando. But that's close from Nasri as his left-foot shot from 20 yards is parried by Helton. And that's half time.
45 min Three minutes of stoppage time will be played, as a pass from Arshavin goes dangerously astray in the centre circle. Arsenal manage to clear eventually, but Arsene Wenger are going to have to address Arsenal's casual attitude towards possession at the break.
42 min You sense Arsenal want to finish this before half time. Bendtner collects a long goal kick and slips it to Arshavin. The ball is played back to the Dane, who tries to curl it round Helton from 20 yards. It bounces awkwardly, and Helton has to push it behind. From the corner, a better save from the Brazilian keeper as he gets down low to keep out a header from Diaby at the near post.
Henry Winter on Twitter: "Bendtner's turned into Preben Elkjaer... two good finishes by Arsenal's Dane, though could hardly miss. Vindicated Wenger's faith."
39 min Chance for Hulk as he capitalises on a complete Cygan of an attempted clearance 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 into fellow Belgian Frank de Bleeckere's book for nipping 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 look dangerous going forward. Bendtner heads away, but they win another. This, too, comes to nothing but Arsenal will be worries at the way Porto are able to run it with impunity into Arsenal territory.
34 min Again, Arsenal cut Porto open like a jacket potato. Great run from Nasri, and the ball's pulled back to an unmarked Arshavin 14 yards out. Helton's nowhere to be seen, but Arshavin blazes it over. Arshavin could have wrapped this tie right there.
32 min Audacious attempt by Hulk, who latches onto a poor clearance by Almunia and tries to lob him. But it's well wide.
31 min Song bursts from midfield and slips it to Arshavin. This is fluid and devastating from Arsenal. Arshavin plays it through to Bendtner, but he's offside.
29 min Campbell - who's had a shaky start - gives the ball away to Falcao, but he's saved by some poor linesmanning (a word? Probably not), who flags the Colombian offside for being in an offside position a few seconds earlier.
28 min Would you believe it? More shocking defending from Porto, but what a great start for Bendtner. To be fair, neither of his goals were exactly Van Basten, but he was in position when nobody else was. A free-kick from Arshavin is heading straight from the top corner, but it's plucked out of the air by Helton.
26 min Great play from Arshavin! Terrible clearance from Porto goes straight to the Russian, who goes on one of those twisting, winding little runs that turns defences into hopeless spectators. He squares for an unmarked Bendtner, and Arsenal lead on aggregate.
GOAL Arsenal 2-0 Porto (Bendtner)
24 min Yellow card for Falcao has he clatters into the back of Song. Only two players are already on a yellow tonight: Pereira for Porto, Clichy for Arsenal.
22 min There hasn't been a great concentration of concentration so far, you might say. Vermaelen was fuming after Arsenal gave away that last corner, but they still went to sleep when Porto took it quickly. Hulk attempts to flick it through 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 end 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 make a rushed punch. Eventually Frank de Bleeckere's whistle reprieves Arsenal.
18 min Although Arsenal will win if it stays like this, I can't see that being the end of tonight's scoring. This is a quick, open game between two teams who have shown absolutely no defensive aptitude whatsoever.
17 min Sagna is playing like an outside-right here, racing down the wing to win a corner. Nasri with in, and Diaby improvises a side-footed hook from around 16 yards, but it's narrowly over.
15 min The corner flashes all the way across the area! Arsenal can't get it clear, and Varela has another chance to cross. Finally, Arsenal head it away. That's the first piece of defending Arsenal have had to do, and honesly? That wasn't impressive.
14 min Porto are an excellent side when they get the abll down and play 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 only just kicked off again, as Helton stayed down after the goal. He's up again, though, and we can reflect on another redemption for Nicklas Bendtner. For all the derision he attracts from cheap, two-bob live bloggers, that's his eighth goal of the season.
11 min Replays suggested Arshavin was a touch offside when going up for that header. But Porto can have no complaints about that goal. Rolando shouldn't be losing crucial headers to people who still pay child rate at the cinema.
10 min Rolando loses a header to Arshavin, of all people. Rosicky plays the Russian through first time, and though he's tackled, Bendtner is on hand to tuck it in. That was just what Arsenal needed early on.
GOAL Arsenal 1-0 Porto (Bendtner)
7 min The game's barely started, and already Arsenal are all over Porto like a French dressing here. A deep cross from Sagna finds Arshavin, whose header forces a great save from Helton.
6 min Nasri plays the ball through for Rosicky, who drags it back. Coelho clears, but it's straight to the feet of Nasri. Pulls the trigger! But it's blocked. Great play from Arsenal.
5 min Worrying moment for Arsene Wenger has Bacary Sagna gets a painful tap on the ankle from Pereira. He hobbles off, but looks as though he'll be OK to continue.
4 min Menacing start from Arsenal. Clichy gets another cross in, but this one's headed away. Then a free-kick on the left gives Arshavin a chance to swing the ball in. Helton has to rise highest to punch it away.
2 min First pressure from Arsenal. Song spreads it left for Clichy, whose cross is barely over the head of Bendtner. The Dane is under pressure tonight after playing like a competition winner against Burnley at the weekend. A few wags have suggessted that the number on his shirt corresponds to the number of chances he needs to score. It's 52.
19.45 The teams are out. Referee Frank de Bleeckere, who you might (all right, probably won't) remember as the referee from England's World Cup game against Ecuador in 2006, gets the game under way.
19.42 Tony Adams reckons Arsenal will need three goals to qualify. Wenger has picked a blisteringly attacking side, with 11 players that like to go forward. Hopefully Manuel Almunia, at least, will stifle his attacking instincts.
19.30 Perhaps surprisingly, Arsenal are slight favourites to qualify, according to the bookmakers. They're generally available at 8/13 to win on the night and around 8/11 to make it to the quarter-finals. I reckon that's a little tight, although the bookies are clearly reacting to a late flurry of patriotic punters. I say 'patriotic'. We're almost at the stage where the only Englishman left at the Emirates is Arsene Wenger's butler.
19.27 There's one other match in the Champions League tonight, and it's as finely poised as this one: Fiorentina take on Bayern Munich at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, also 2-1 down after the first leg. Franck Ribery has shaken off an injury and takes his place on the wing for Bayern. Fiorentina have not reached the quarter-finals of this competition since 1970, in the days when there were no actual matches. The results were simply decided by a panel of administrators and members of the most prominent houses of Europe. Fiorentina were defeated in that quarter-final after a late intervention by Baron von Niedersachsen of Habsburg. Anyway, it's been a while. You can read a match preview.
19.18 While you're waiting for kick-off, have a read of Jeremy Wilson's match preview. Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger has said that he has 'faith' in his misfiring striker Nicklas Bendtner, who is leading the line again tonight. Let's just check the dictionary definition 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 wide right. Maybe when Arshavin tires, Theo comes on."
19.11 Just in case you were wondering: no, not that Maicon. The defender on Porto's bench is Maicon Pereira Roque, a 21-year-old centre-half who they signed last summer. He's played three 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 victory would see Arsenal qualify. This time last year, they were in the opposite situation, defending a 1-0 lead against Roma in the Stadio Olimpico. They lost 1-0 and scraped through 7-6 on penalties. One thing's for certain: if we see a similar finale tonight, I'm missing my last tube home.
19.00 Welcome to Tuesday night's Champions League live blog. In around 45 minutes, we'll find out what Arsene Wenger's latest stable of Arsenal thoroughbreds are made of. They trail Porto 2-1 on aggregate going into tonight's game at the Emirates. They have never overturned a first-leg deficit in this competition before. Porto have won the Portuguese title four times in a row and were champions of Europe in 2004 under Jose whatsisname.