Arsenal reach last 16 after win

Arsenal moved into the last 16 of the Champions League with a laboured 3-1 win over Group H whipping boys Partizan Belgrade at the Emirates Stadium.

Robin van Persie's first of the season put the Gunners ahead before Cleo's deflected strike drew the scores level just after the break.

Knowing only a win would secure them qualification, the Londoners stepped up their game and secured the win thanks to goals from substitute Theo Walcott and Samir Nasri before Bacary Sagna was dismissed late on for a clumsy challenge on Aleksandar Lazevski.

Full-back Kieran Gibbs turned his ankle badly and was replaced by Emmanuel Eboue before the hosts were gifted the opening goal as the half-hour mark approached when Marko Jovanovic upended van Persie after Alex Song had burst into the Partizan penalty area.

The Dutchman took the spot-kick himself to fire home his first goal since the final day of last season.

However, Arsenal's defensive frailties were exposed when Partizan scored a shock equaliser on 52 minutes. The ball was worked down the left and then through to Cleo, some 20 yards out. He was given the space to turn and fire a shot goalwards, which deflected off the lunging Sebastien Squillaci and looped over Lukasz Fabianski.

With 24 minutes left, Wenger looked to inject fresh life into the attack as he sent on Walcott, replacing the ineffective Andrey Arshavin.

Seven minutes later, the England winger lobbed the ball into the far corner after it fell to him on the right side of the area.

Marouane Chamakh was replaced by Nicklas Bendtner and the Dane had a hand in Arsenal's third after a neat exchange of passes with Song on the edge of the area fed Nasri - and the Frenchman sidestepped his marker as he swept the ball into the far corner.

There was late drama as Sagna was sent off for tripping Alexander Lazevski after being deemed last man by Italian referee Paolo Tagliavento but it mattered little as the Gunners reached the knockout stages for the 11th successive season.