Van Persie seals Gunners win

12 April 2012

Robin van Persie's first-half penalty gave Arsenal a slender advantage from the first leg of their Champions League clash with Roma at Emirates Stadium.

The Dutchman kept his cool from the spot after being tripped by Philippe Mexes on 37 minutes.

Arsenal, though, should have had a second, with Nicklas Bendtner and Emmanuel Eboue both missing clear chances.

Arsenal created the first real chance when Samir Nasri pulled the ball back for Bendtner, on the penalty spot, but it was just a yard behind him and the Dane's first touch was heavy, allowing the defenders to recover and block.

There was a warning for Arsenal when Marco Motta let fly from 25 yards with an angled drive, which was heading towards the top right corner before Manuel Almunia tipped it behind.

Roma defender Simone Loria then somehow managed to stab the ball over when he was picked out in the six-yard box by a quick free-kick.

However, the Gunners were awarded a penalty on 37 minutes when Van Persie got into the left side of the area, and was tripped by Philippe Mexes and the Dutchman stepped up to take the spot-kick himself - and coolly dispatched his 15th goal of the season into the bottom right corner.

Bendtner should have made it 2-0 on 53 minutes as the ball broke to him in the box. The young Dane took a touch to set himself in the six-yard box - before then blazing his shot high over the bar.

A mix-up in the Roma defence when Loria slipped suddenly gifted Eboue a golden chance as he latched onto a loose ball at the edge of the area. However, the Ivory Coast midfielder went wide and skewed his shot the wrong side of the post, with the keeper beaten.

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