Bendtner’s hat-trick sends Arsenal into quarter-finals
By DPA, IANSTuesday, March 9, 2010
LONDON - Nicklas Bendtner scored a superb hat-trick as Arsenal produced a virtuoso performance to crush Porto 5-0 to storm into the quarter-finals of the Champions League Tuesday.
Trailing 2-1 from the first leg in Portugal, two goals from Bendtner put them in front and after Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Eboue had also scored, Bendtner completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot to seal their place in the last eight.
“It’s fantastic - it’s been a long time waiting to get a hat-trick so I’m very pleased,” Bendtner said.
“It didn’t happen for me on Saturday but I put that behind me and today I put it right. As a club, we are desperate to win the Champions League and we will do all we can to do that this year.”
It was a fantastic performance from an Arsenal side who were missing their inspirational captain Cesc Fabregas.
Nasri, Tomas Rosicky and Abou Diaby were all at their most dominant and once Bendtner had put them ahead, the visitors never had a chance.
The Dane had missed a hatful of chances for Arsenal in the Premier League at the weekend but he made no mistake on 10 minutes when he finished easily after some last-gasp defending only resulted in the ball being played into his path.
On 25 minutes, it was 2-0 and Arsenal were ahead on aggregate as Andrey Arshavin turned the defence inside and out before Bendtner finished it off.
Nasri put the game away from Porto with the third goal on 63 minutes and Eboue scored three minutes later.
Arsenal continued to attack as the clock wound down and after Eboue was fouled by Jorge Fucile, Bendtner put the resulting penalty into the corner to complete a great night for himself and Arsenal.
