I pretty much said yesterday that it wouldn’t be another 4-0 and it would be a tough game but I was quite wrong. We got that early goal and that was it from there really, there was a period in the second half when Porto looked like getting back in it but we simply outclassed them at the end of the day. I said it’d be a memorable night one way or the other and it ended up being a classic 5-0 victory.

Our first came after just ten minutes, the ball went all the way through to Arshavin who was dispossessed right at the last minute but the ball came straight to Bendtner. He put it away and looked delighted to finally see the ball in the back of the net after the weekend he’s just had. Bit of a lucky goal in that three players went in on Arshavin and the ball went straight to Bendtner for an easy tap in but we’ll take it, just as Porto took their goals in the first leg.

15 minutes later it was Arshavin and Bendtner combining again to make it 2-0. Andrei’s low ball across the face of the goal was turned in for the Dane who was now on a hat-trick with less than half an hour gone. How fortunes can change.

We were playing really confident football and should’ve put the game to bed with a third in the first half. We had a number of chances but the best one surely fell to Arshavin who was unmarked at the back post but couldn’t keep his shot down. It was almost too easy for the Russian, I guess that can be his only excuse for smashing it over the bar.

So just 2-0 at the break, a great half but Porto weren’t out of it yet, just one goal from them and it would go to extra time. The visitors knew how lucky they were to still be in it and went in search of a goal, the first 15 minutes of the second half were quite tense and the closest we came to conceding all game. They had us pegged back and Arsenal and Porto players alike were all too conscious that one away goal would swing the balance of this tie again.

We needed someone to lift us up, get possession again or maybe even score us a goal. We didn’t look like creating much though.

It took a magical piece of skill from Samir Nasri in the end who scored a fine individual goal just after the hour. If you haven’t seen it, you really must. He took on three defenders from the right wing ending up one-on-one with Helton. He was at a ridiculous angle though and I thought he surely had to cross it but he had other ideas somehow tucking it inside the far post with power. What a goal, one of the best seen at the new stadium for sure and that was game over. 3-0 meant Porto needed two goals now and although not impossible it was a long shot.

However before Porto could think how to score two without conceding we made it 4-0 and it was time for them to head back to Portugal. Just three minutes after our third Arshavin broke off a Porto corner and had Eboue in support. Andrey held the ball up well, played the perfect ball to Eboue who rounded the ‘keeper and put it in the back of the net. A great counter attacking goal from one end to the other in seconds finished to perfection.

The fifth was the last kick of the game when Eboue went down in the box and we were awarded a penalty. Obviously Bendtner was going to take it and even though the goalie went the right way it was far enough in the corner to complete his hat-trick. I think everyone felt really chuffed for Nick last night, he didn’t get a lot of grief on Saturday for his missed chanced; everyone just accepted it was one of those days. Last night he paid us back for our faith. They were three fairly easy goals to score but just like at the weekend he finds himself in the right place at the right time which is striker’s instinct. Well done Nick, keep up the good work.

Arshavin had a great game last night playing a major part in three of the goals and being an all-round general nuisance to the Porto defence. He was beating players, setting up goal scoring chances and he was even getting up for headers! We’ll forgive him for that sitter in the first half, glad to see him hitting form again just at the right time.

Nasri was excellent too, he had big boots to fill with Cesc Fabregas out but he did a brilliant job of it. He bossed the midfield, provided that special bit extra in the middle and played inspirational football to carry the team on – all qualities that we love our captain for so much for. Cesc must be feeling a little less special today! Of course I’m joking but after last night I feel pretty lucky that we have the two of them in our side and both of them are still so young. Wenger said Nasri will revert back to the wing in our next game but he showed us that he can fill in whenever needed. That great individual goal together with that chipped assist against Burnley and it’s been a good few days for Samir. He looks really special at the moment and is quickly improving.

So we can start looking forward to the draw for the next round now and after the game Wenger said he wouldn’t mind an English team. He said it would be a great chance to show what we can do and forget about those recent losses in the league. To be quite honest I do not care who we get in the next round; You look for the ‘easy ties’ but there are no easy game at this stage of the competition. So bring on Man United, bring on Chelsea, bring on Barcelona – I don’t care. When we play like we played last night and have our players back from injury we can beat anyone in the world.

Thanks for reading.