The comprehensive victory gave Arsene Wenger’s men a 6-2 aggregate successat the Emirates Stadium to secure a place in the last eight of the Champions League.
It meant the hosts made history by coming back after a opening-leg deficit in a European tie for the first time since 1978.
Bendtner opened the scoring in the 10th minute. The move was started with a long ball from Manuel Almunia that Andrey Arshavin managed to win in the air, directing it towards Samir Nasri, despite Rolando towering over him.
improbable situation
Nasri put the ball in the area Rolando had left open, with Arshavin racing through on goal. The Russian and Porto defender Fucile crashed into goalkeeper Helton and the ball broke for Bendtner to tap home.
It was the Denmark striker’s sixth of the season and meant if the scores remained level, Campbell’s header at Estadio do Dragao would count double.
However, it is not in the nature of Wenger’s side to defend a lead, with Diaby trying his luck from long range after a corner had been cleared but going just over.
Bendtner’s second, in the 25th minute, again came after Arshavin’s industry from an improbable situation.
He collected a poor clearance from Fucile but still had plenty of work to do but managed to wriggled back past the Porto full-back as well as Nuno Coelho and Ruben Micael before rifling his cross for Bendtner to tap home.
Arshavin should have added another in the 34th minute when Nasri got to the byline and pulled the ball back through Rolando’s legs, but his team-mate smashed over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.
Nasri added the third when Arsenal counter-attacked. Nothing looked on when he picked the ball up on the right flank but he beat Meireles, Alvaro Pereira and Rodriguez before smashing past Helton from a tight angle.
It was 4-0 on the night when Arshavin broke from a corner, muscling past Fucile then threading the ball behind Meireles, allowing Emmanuel Eboue to round Helton and finish into an empty net.
Bendtner completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the final minute to round off a comprehensive victory.
“It is not in the nature of Wenger’s side to defend a lead” .
Credits: PremierLeague.com
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