FT: Arsenal 5 Porto 0 (Agg: 6-2)

And that is that. A wonderful night for Arsenal who have blown aside Porto to reach the last eight. Never in doubt... was it? Thanks for your company. I promised goals, and delivered.

No mistake from Bendtner who claims the first hat-trick of his Arsenal career

90+1 GOAL ARSENAL!!

89 Fucile is in the book for bringing down Eboue in the box. Bendtner over the penalty...

PENALTY ARSENAL!

88 An ambitious shot from Falcao sails well, well wide

86 Porto enjoy a rare foray forward but it comes to nothing. Party time here at the Emirates

84 So nearly a hat-trick for Bendtner. Walcott's cross was perfect and the big Dane got up above his man put planted his powerful header wide.

82 Not a lot to report. Arsenal showboating, crowd loving it

80 The Gunners look determined to add to their tally here. They are not settling for four. Porto, on the other hand, just want the game to end

78 Walcott is immediately involved and his curling left-footed effort is deflected out for a corner

77 And Walcott replaces the magnificent Arshavin

76 Double substitution for Porto. Guarin and Gonzalez on for Ruben Micael and Varela

73 Arshavin weaves more magic and stands the ball up to the back post. It comes all the way through to Sagna but he shows just why he is a defender and blazes the ball into row Z!

72 Denilson comes on for Nasri, who receives a deserved standing ovation

71 Eboue has had his critics, but the way he took that goal was superb. Everything has come together for Arsenal tonight and they are a real threat in this competition

69 This could be anything now! Bendtner is denied his hat-trick by last-gasp defending

No, but I think this one is! It all stemmed from a Porto corner which was picked up by Arshavin. The little Russian drove at the Porto defence and slipped through Eboue with an inch-perfect pass. Eboue skipper around Helton and slotted home from an acute angle. A breathtaking counter-attacking goal!

66 GOAL ARSENAL!!

An unbelievable solo goal from Nasri! The Frenchman leaves three Porto defenders in his wake before firing the ball past Helton and in off the post. Is that the goal that sends the Gunners through?!

63 GOAL ARSENAL!!

63 This is very uncomfortable for Arsenal at the moment. Hulk runs at Campbell inside the box but also runs out of pitch and the ball drifts out for a goalkick

61 Off the line! Rodriguez heads the ball goalwards but thankfully Nasri was on the line to clear... just

60 Porto fancy this now. Another attack brings them a corner

59 Alvaro is the third man in the book after chopping down Eboue.

59 Wenger marches out of his dugout to give his players a much-needed kick up the you know what

58 Defensive change from Wenger as Eboue replaces Rosicky

57 End-to-end stuff yet again. Arshavin lets fly from the edge of the area after a free-kick is only half cleared, but Helton keeps it out.

56 Arsenal haven't got going as yet in the second half...

55 Big, big chance for Porto again. A low cross found its way all the way through to Falcao but fortunately for Arsenal his fierce left-footed drive was straight at Almunia who gathered at the second attempt.

54 Arsenal respond well and Song shoots straight at Helton

53 Huge chance for Hulk goes begging! Rosicky's misplaced pass went straight to the powerful frontman and baring down one-on-one he fired high and wide.

51 A lot of needless fouls at the start of the half. Hulk the latest guilty player with a late trip on an unimpressed Sagna

50 Raul Meireles unleashes an ambitious 30-yard shot which sails over the bar

48 Arsenal press forward and win a corner of their own. Another strong punch from Helton clears the danger though. Very open start to the half, I predict goals, goals, goals!

47 More uncertainty from Campbell from the resulting set-piece before Arsenal eventually clear their lines

46 Porto start well and win an early corner...

Porto change at the break. Rodriguez (attacking midfielder) has come on for Coelho (defensive midfielder)

Conor in Ireland has called for discipline in the second half. He says: "Joe, looking good so far, only real fear is the way we're jumping into challenges (Bendtner, Vermaelen, etc) if we go a man down the game could turn against us. Other than that i can def see a third goal. Go on the Gooners."

Waleed, another New Yorker, says: "With Almunia in goal, we're always liable to concede. The first goal in the second (there will be more) half will be huge. If Arsenal get it, it will be a rout. Nervous until we score."

Zeshan is confident, saying: "Well I think if Arsenal get another and Porto don't score the next goal I can see arsenal running away with this tie - I say final score 4-1."

Happy Arsenal fans or still nervous? Get in touch!

Wow, take a breath stuff here. A pulsating 45 minutes comes to an end and it's Arsenal in pole position thanks to two goals from Bendtner. This is by no means over yet though

45+3 Nasri shoots powerfully left-footed and Helton once more is forced into a full-stretched diving save

45+2 Arshavin drives into the box yet again and wins a corner on the stroke of half-time

45 A little bit of showboating from Arshavin, the best player on the park so far, gets a cheer from the crowd, and rightly so

44 Bendtner is in the book for what can only be described as a "striker's tackle". It was more than a hint of two-footed also...

43 Arshavin's corner is met by the head of Vermaelen and Helton has to be at his best to keep that out. So nearly 3-0!

42 Better from Arsenal who enjoy a spell of possession in the Porto half which ends with a Bendtner shot tipped behind for a corner

40 Arsenal getting a bit careless here, giving the ball away in dangerous positions. Fascinating viewing for the neutral though

39 Hulk gets past Clichy on the right wing but his shot is straight at Almunia - let off for Arsenal!

38 Vermaelen is harshly booked for a foul on the halfway line

37 Rosicky lets fly from the edge of the area but his shot is blocked

36 Bendtner clears the danger but Porto continue to press...

36 Fine skill from Raul Meireles wins his side a corner

34 Unbelievable! Missed open goal by... Arshavin! Nasri exchanged a one-two with Song and cut the ball back to the little Russian all alone at the back post. But, with the goal gaping, he leant back and placed it over the bar. Wenger and 80,000 Arsenal fans can't believe it!

Despite the start, Gavin Kelleher is worried. He says: "Take Sol off! He is going to prove the week link for Arsenal due to his lack of pace. This game is by no means over and unless Wenger takes Sol off and replaces him with Eboue, I can see this all ending in tears for the gunners."

31 Only a linesman's flag denies Bendnter a possible hat-trick! Arshavin is walking past the Porto defenders like they aren't there!

30 Isn't football great!? Bendnter couldn't hit a barn door on Saturday but can't miss tonight. Two open goals in truth but even so...

29 Heading for the top corner but not enough pace on it and Helton catches

28 Free-kick for Arsenal right on the edge... Arshavin over it

27 Well, well, well. This is my bet - no more goals please! I can't see it coming in for one minute though, Arsenal look so dangerous going forward and Porto's defending has been woeful so far.

Arsenal are on fire! Arshavin weaves through four would-be Porto tacklers on the edge of the area and cuts the ball back to Bendnter who can't miss from three yards out.

25 GOAL ARSENAL!!

24 A nasty collision in the middle of the park and Falcao is booked for his foul on Song

23 As has Vermaelen... and a good job too, Sol has been off the pace

21 End-to-end stuff at present but no goalmouth action to speak of. Arshavin and Nasri have been brilliant thus far

19 Falcao gives Campbell the run around and yet again it is up to Vermaelen to put in the block. Good spell this for the visitors

18 Diaby meets the corner with a volley but just can't get over the ball and it whistles over the bar - fine effort nevertheless.

17 Nothing came of the set-piece and Arsenal break to force a corner of their own

16 An early reminder from Porto. Hulk cut inside and was just about to let fly before Vermaelen came across to make the tackle. Corner Porto.

14 Well, all of a sudden the onus is on Porto. Arsenal have been right on the money so far and deserved their goal. Arsenal fans in great voice

13 Back up and running here...

12 A long delay here as Porto keeper Helton receives treatment. He collided badly with a defender in the build-up to the goal.

Well didn't you just know Bendtner would have a say in this tonight! Nasri slipped through Arshavin, Guarin (I think) made a wonderful last-ditch tackle, but the ball fell nicely to Bendtner who beat his man to the ball and slotted into the empty net. Dream start for the Gunners!!

10 GOAL ARSENAL!!

8 More glorious football from Arsenal. Sagna, back on and looking fine, whipped over a dangerous cross and Arshavin's back-post header was brilliantly saved by Helton.

7 Big chance for Arsenal goes begging. Nasri slipped in Rosicky who strode to the by-line. The Czech midfielder cut the ball back to Nasri who continued his run, but his goalbound shot was blocked superbly by a Porto defender. That looked a certain goal

6 Injury worry for Arsenal here as Sagna receives treatment after stretching for the ball. He hobbles to the touchline but looks like he will be able to run it off.

5 Arshavin's dangerous in-swinging free-kick is punched away by Porto stopper Helton. The Gunners have started really well here

4 Arsenal pressing forward here. Song and Diaby linking up well on the edge of the box...

3 Arsenal bomb forward and Clichy's cross is aimed towards Bendtner but the big Dane can't get his header goalwards and Porto clear

2 Just a word on the pitch - it looks absolutely fantastic, smooth as silk

1 Early attack for Porto but Campbell is there with a diving-headed clearance. Looks like Hulk is playing on the right looking to put pressure on Clichy

0 Porto get us underway...

The players are out on the pitch ladies and gents as the Champions League theme tune blares out across the stadium. Kick-off is imminent...

"Hi Joe, Peter Robinson here a big Arsenal and Aston Villa fan from Birmingham but know living in Chicago, USA. I reckon Aresnal to win 2-1 but lose on penalties tonight, have a bad feeling about the game." Arsenal and Villa fan Peter? Interesting double allegiance that one. Hope all is well over in the Windy City.

19:35 10 minutes until kick-off folks and the Emirates is filling up nicely. My last commentary game (Everton v Hull) brought six goals on Sunday, i'm hoping for more of the same tonight.

Gary Smith has got back to me on Song. He says: "Song is unquestionably the most improved arsenal player this season. He is the new makalele in my opinion, does all the simple stuff briliiantly. Arsenal will want a clean sheet to make up for the suicide defending last time.Arsenal to win 2-0, Diaby to score last." Thanks for that Gary.

Another long-distance fan with us tonight. Omar from Jamaica says: "Arsenal will overcome Porto even without fabregas. Walcott will come on and make a big impact, i think he's raring to go, he should have been a starter, definately." Cheers Omar, hope it's not too hot for you over in the Caribbean!

Lee Emerson, all the way from New York is also with us tonight, he says: " Huge game for both sides and both will feel they have a chance. I am going for Arsenal...2-0....and just hope no one fouls the Arsenal players - fed up with Wengers whinging!" Cheers for that Lee.

There is indeed plenty of money riding on St Nick. I have backed him and Arsenal to win 2-0 at 22/1... I live in hope.

Our good friends from Sky Bet have been in touch with the pre-match prices. Arsenal 8/13 - Draw 13/5 - Porto 4/1

Odds compiler Andy Clarke says: "The absence of Cesc Fabregas hasn't put the punters off backing Arsenal, who have been well supported at 8/13. Nicklas Bendtner missed a hatful of chances against against Burnley at the weekend but there is plenty of money riding on him at 5/1 for the first goal."

On Song? A huge responsibility on Alex Song to step up tonight in Cesc's absence. From what I have seen of him he looks the real deal, what do you Arsenal fans think?

A nervous Henry Stonham from Sheffield says: "Hi Joe. If Porto score first, it could be curtains for Arsenal. Saying that, apart from the Man Utd and Chelsea games, we have been unstoppable at home and even without super Cesc, I think we can get the job done. Got my money on a 3-1 win for the Gunners with Arshavin bagging the first." Nice shout that...

Josh Knipschild has been in touch. He says: "Without Fabregas Arsenal will surely lose. I say Arsenal will lose 1-0."

Predictions Hello all, this is a two-way process tonight as we see if Arsenal can become the first British team to progress to the quarter-finals. Fire all your thoughts, predictions, tips my way at Joe.drabble@bskyb.com and i'll post the pick of the bunch.

Preview Arsenal winger Theo Walcott has been named on the bench as Arsene Wenger's side looked to overturn their first leg deficit against Porto in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Trailing 2-1 from their trip to Portugal, Arsenal field five changes from the side that defeated Burnley at the weekend, a victory in which Walcott scored in.

Skipper Cesc Fabregas is ruled out through a hamstring injury, while Denilson, Mikael Silvestre and Emmanuel Eboue are on the bench with Walcott.

Abou Diaby, Bacary Sagna, Alex Song, Andrey Arshavin and Sol Campbell have all been drafted in by Wenger.

Teams - Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Campbell, Vermaelen, Clichy, Nasri, Song, Diaby, Rosicky, Bendtner, Arshavin.
Subs: Fabianski, Eduardo, Walcott, Denilson, Silvestre, Eboue, Traore.
FC Porto: Helton, Fucile, Rolando, Bruno Alves, Pereira, Ruben Micael, Coelho, Raul Meireles, Varela, Falcao, Hulk.
Subs: Nuno, Guarin, Belluschi, Rodriguez, Gonzalez, Maicon, Miguel Lopes.
And the man in the middle this evening is Frank De Bleeckere from Belgium - not Swedish official Martin Hansson, Arsene Wenger and all you Gunners will be pleased to hear!

19:00 Good evening everybody and welcome to minute-by-minute commentary of tonight's Champions League encounter between Arsenal and Porto from the Emirates Stadium