Arsenal 4-0 FC Porto

01-10-2008 10:55

Arsenal got their home campaign in the Champions League off to a fantastic start with a comfortable 4-0 win over Porto, with braces from Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor.

Van Persie slid in to convert Adebayor's cross and open the scoring. The Dutchman's corner was headed in by Adebayor making it 2-0.

Van Persie poked his second one in on 48 minutes and Adebayor netted the fourth, a penalty, following a foul on Nicklas Bendtner.

Following their shock loss to Hull at the weekend, manager Arsene Wenger promised to make changes but he only made one, bringing in Samir Nasri for Emmanuel Eboue, however the side had obviously pulled themselves together and could even afford to miss a host of chances.

Arsenal were exposed in defence though when Porto's Rodriguez's downward header bounced up on top of the bar.

The visitors came closer still to taking the lead when Arsenal failed to clear a corner and Lisandro's shot was scrambled off the line by Gael Clichy.

Fortunately Van Persie's goal came on 31 minutes, settling any nerves and just ten minutes later Adebayor headed in off the underside of the bar.

Adebayor should have had a hat-trick but scuffed a shot wide late on, but by then it was all academic.