Arsenal went down 2-1 at Porto in controversial fashion on Wednesday night.
They trailed after just 11 minutes of this Champions League Knockout Round first leg when keeper Lucasz Fabianski fumbled Silvestre Valera’s cross over his own line.
However they got back on level terms almost immediately when Sol Cambell, playing his first Champions League game since the 2006 Final, nodded in from close range.
It seemed that Arsenal had come through unscathed after an early assault.
However they then conceded a self-inflicted goal.
Once again Valera attacked down the Porto right. The 23-year-old skipped past his marker and, once again, had time to pick out his target.
Fabianski moved out to anticipate a ball into the heart of the area. But, intended or not, Valera’s cross was fired directly across the goal just two yards out. It meant Fabianski had to dive back from where he had just come and attempt to shovel the ball away. Unfortunately the Polish international could only fumble the ball over the line. A horrible-looking goal to concede.
In fairness, Arsenal’s recovered almost immediately.
Bendtner whistled a deflected shot inches wide of the angle in the 16th minute. Fabregas raced over to take the corner. The captain was clearly in an urgent mood this evening.
His kick was flicked on by Vermaelen to Rosicky at the far post. The Czech midfielder nodded the ball back into the danger area and Campbell headed home from three yards out.
It was an enormous goal. Away goals in Europe always are but this one settled Arsenal after the shakiest of starts.
Rosicky’s rasping cross-shot forced Helton into a full-length save a couple of minutes later. Clearly the visitors now fancied the job.
Fabianski redeemed himself somewhat by pawing away a shot from Micael and then clutching a high, hanging free-kick in the midst of a crowded area.
The liberty of opening half-hour had now been shackled. It was still a decent, attacking game but the opening stages had been reminiscent of the last 10 minutes of an FA Cup replay not the start of a crucial two-legged Champions League tie.
In the 35th minute, Fabregas floated over a free-kick and Bendtner’s back header forced the backtracking Helton to tip the ball over the bar. It had been a hell of a half but Arsenal finished it in the ascendancy.
The second period started the same way, Bendtner hacked over the bar and then Rosicky had strong claims for a penalty after Varela chopped him down on the right of the area.