Arsenal and Porto both through after draw

Porto 0 Arsenal 0

Arsenal successfully negotiated a potentially fraught trip to Porto but endured a few heart-stopping moments before clinching their place in the Champions League knockout stages.

The Gunners had already faced one “moment of truth” this season, according to boss Arsene Wenger, in the build up-to last week’s 2-1 loss to Fulham, and tonight’s critical Group G showdown was another.

Defeat could have seen last term’s beaten finalists crash out of the Champions League to compound the misery of their failure to mount a Barclays Premiership title challenge.

While neither side initially appeared in a hurry to climb out of first gear at the Estadio do Dragao, as a point would have seen them both qualify for the last 16, Porto cranked up the tension after the interval.

Ricardo Quaresma was denied by a stunning save from Jens Lehmann and the slippery winger, Porto’s greatest threat throughout, then rattled the woodwork.

The Portuguese champions maintained the pressure with Quaresma and Lisandro Lopez showing flashes of brilliance that far outshone anything Arsenal could produce until the match petered out in the last 10 minutes.

Arsenal boss Wenger signalled his intentions by picking midfielder Mathieu Flamini over striker Robin van Persie, with Emmanuel Adebayor operating as a lone forward.

The defensive approach contributed to the Gunners’ failure to muster a single meaningful shot on goal and they spent most of the second half trying to stem the tide of Porto attacks.

Wenger may reflect that the club accomplished their target in reaching the next stage but their negative approach might have backfired but for the timely intervention of Lehmann and the post.

Ultimately tonight’s events at the Estadio do Dragao did not matter as CSKA Moscow failed to beat Hamburg, despite leading twice, in the other Group G clash, but it was a far-from-convincing display from Arsenal.

Porto, who clinched a domestic league and cup double last season, entered the match in fine form after winning their last seven matches.

The 2004 Champions League winners had won all but one of their home games this season with a goalless draw against CSKA Moscow the only dropped points.

They made a solid start by closing down Arsenal, who enjoyed most of the early possession, as quickly as possible.

There was danger in the fifth minute when Alexander Hleb showed skill and composure to release Cesc Fabregas, only for the Spaniard to overhit his pass to Flamini, who could not connect.

Porto won a free-kick, which Quaresma used to pick out Pepe, but the centre-back’s header looped over the crossbar.

Gilberto Silva gave the ball away in a dangerous position but the panic quickly subsided when Raul Meireles blasted his shot wide of the left post.

A cheeky back-heel from Quaresma caught the eye but the tempo of the match was slow.

Fucile found Helder Postiga but his shot sailed straight into the arms of Lehmann, the German goalkeeper’s first meaningful touch of the ball.

An outrageous flick from Quaresma brought yells of delight from the home support and Lehmann had to scurry across his line to meet the oncoming shot at the far post.

Postiga and Pepe tried their luck as Porto began to attack with more venom with Lisandro Lopez, who was patrolling the left wing to good effect, their most dangerous player.

The Portuguese broke with lightening pace at times and one quicksilver move saw Lopez race forward and release Quaresma, who rounded Gael Clichy before Johan Djourou headed clear.

Flamini and Fabregas linked nicely but the Frenchman’s shot deflected for a corner, which sailed long.

Pepe came to the rescue as Fabregas and Hleb combined down the right with the Belorussian winger seeing his final ball expertly cut out.

Neither side showed any changes for the second half and it took superb reflexes from Lehmann to prevent Arsenal going behind in the 48th minute.

Lucho Gonzalez set off on a marauding run and picked out Lopez, whose centre escaped all the Gunners’ defenders and found an unmarked Quaresma.

The winger drilled a powerful low shot to the right-hand corner but Lehmann rescued the situation with a magnificent save before having to react to a useful run from Postiga.

There were worrying signs for Arsenal as Porto continued to pile on the pressure and the visiting fans had their hearts in their mouth when Quaresma struck the post with a pile-driver that had beaten Lehmann.

Adebayor tried to bundle the ball into the net but, with Pepe pressing, the ball bobbled along the ground and into the arms of keeper Helton, who saved theatrically.

Postiga sent a 69th-minute effort wide of the right post as Porto continued to press and, with news that CSKA Moscow had taken a 2-1 lead against Hamburg, Arsenal could not afford to slip up.

Porto took their foot off the pedal in the last 15 minutes to the displeasure of the home crowd but they were content to have secured qualification in second place behind group winners Arsenal.