Arsenal through to knockout stage

Arsenal are through to the knock out stages of the Champions League after a 3-1 win over Partizan Belgrade at the Emirates. The Gunner's goals came from Van Persie, Walcott and Nasri. Despite this win they finished second behind group winners Shakhtar Donetsk who also won on the night. Arsenal will now have to play a harder team in the round of 16 with a possible tie against Barcelona again. Wenger put out a stronger lineup than in the last two Champions League games knowing that they had to get a result to qualify. Van Persie started in place of Tomas Rosicky and Denilson came in for Wilshere. However Gibbs' chance to impress in place of Clichy was cut short with injury as Eboue came on for him on just 24 minutes. Sagna was sent off late on but too late for Partizan to get anything from the game. Partizan's main threat would come from the Brazilian Cleo who got the Serbian teams goal in both of their matches against the Gunners.

Arsenal got an early chance when Sagna delivered a cross from the right onto the head of Chamakh but his header looped harmlessly over and on to the top of the goal.

The Gunners were playing some nice football and Sagna found Nasri free in the penalty area who then found Van Persie but he was under pressure from a defender and put his shot wide.

Before that chance Gibbs had twisted his ankle so he had to come off and be replaced by Emmanuel Eboue.

Arsenal were then awarded with a penalty after Jovanovic brought down Van Persie. Van Persie stepped up to take the penalty and smashed it home to give the Gunners an important lead. It was Van Persie's first goal for Arsenal since May.

The score at half time was 1-0 to Arsenal.

Nasri had a good opportunity to put the Gunners two up as Arshavin found Denilson racing down the left who crossed the ball into the box. The ball bounced off a defender into the path of Nasri but he lashed his shot over the bar.

Then on 52 minutes Partizan grabbed an equaliser and sent the travelling fans crazy. Cleo with a deflected shot off Squillaci which looped over Fabianski and into the back of the net. Arsenal were stunned.

Theo Walcott then came on for Andrey Arshavin who had not had one of his better nights.

5 minutes after the substitution Theo Walcott scored to put Arsenal ahead. Sagna's cross was headed straight into Walcott who chested the ball down and then volleyed his shot into the roof of the net to put Arsenal back in contention for qualifying to the knock out stage.

4 minutes later Nasri sealed the victory and qualification for Arsenal with a superb goal. Song played a one two with Bendtner before beating his man and finding Nasri. No Belgrade defenders got tight enough to him and he was allowed to turn and then fire his effort past Stojkovic in the Partizan goal.

Then 5 minutes from the end of the game Sagna was sent off for a challenge on Lazevski just outside the box. Although the card was a little harsh he had to go for being the last man. Petrovic took the free kick but it was well saved by Fabianski as he pushed the ball away to his left hand side.

The final score ended Arsenal 3-1 Partizan Belgrade.

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Koscielny, Squillaci, Gibbs(24), Song, Nasri, Denilson, Arshavin(67), Van Persie, Chamakh(76).
Subs: Szczesny, Eboue(24) , Rosicky, Vela, Walcott(67), Wilshere, Bendtner(76).

Partizan Belgrade: Stojkovic, Medo, Petrovic, Jovanovic, Savic, Lazevski, Krstajic, Babovic(81), Cleo, Moreira, S.Ilic.
Subs: R. Ilic, Stankovic, Brasanac, Davidov(81), Kizito, Iliev, Smiljanic.

My man of the match: Samir Nasri

Referee: Paolo Tagliavento (Italy)
Attendance: 58,845