Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner put aside the memories of a disastrous day at the office on Saturday, to score a hat-trick against Porto at The Emirates to send the Gunners through to the Champions League quarter-finals.
Bendtner missed five golden chances against Burnley on Saturday, but was not so profligate four days on as he tapped home twice from Andrey Arshavin crosses, then scored a last-minute penalty, in the 5-0 win, (6-2 on aggregate). Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Eboue were also on target for the Premier League side.
Bendtner opening the scoring in the 10th minute. Gunners’ goalkeeper Manuel Almunia’s long punt out was won by Arshavin, who flicked a header onto Nasri and then received the ball back.
The Russian and Porto defender Fucile slammed into goalkeeper Helton as they chased the loose ball, which broke for Bendtner to tap home.
In the 25th minute, Arshavin set up the second when he took a misplaced clearance from Fucile and beat the Porto full-back, Nuno Coelho and Ruben Micael on the left-hand edge of the area before crossing for Bendtner’s second.
Arshavin should have added another himself in the 34th minute, but shot over from ten yards from a Nasri cross, then Abou Diaby and Bendtner were denied by Helton just before the break.
Nasri was matching Arshavin for inspiration, and after clearing a Rodriguez shot off the line on 61 minutes, netted the third five minutes later when he cut in from the left, beat three players then shot past Helton in off the post.
The Gunners were buzzing now, and Eboue made it four with a lung-busting run and finish after Arshavin had picked up a misplaced Porto corner and broken and run forcibly at the visitors’ defence.
Bendtner beat Helton from the spot to complete his personal redemption in injury-time, after Fucile had tripped Eboue in the area.