Van Persie: Penalty WinnerArsenal took a deserved 1-0 lead in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie with Roma courtesy of Robin van Persie's penalty.
The Dutchman picked himself up after being fouled by Philippe Mexes and hammered his 37th-minute spot-kick into the bottom right corner to stretch Arsenal's unbeaten home record in the Champions League to 23 matches.
Early on Samir Nasri broke the offside trap and dashed into the right side of the penalty area.
He pulled the ball back for Nicklas 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.
Arsenal continued to press forward and Gael Clichy picked out Nasri with a deep cross from the left - but his glancing header flew wide when he really should have hit the target.
There was a warning for Arsenal when impressive full-back Marco Motta let fly from 25 yards with an angled drive, which was heading towards the top right corner before Manuel Almunia tipped it over.
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.
But Arsenal were awarded a penalty when van Persie got into the left side of the area, and was tripped by Mexes.
The Dutchman stepped up to take the spot-kick himself - and coolly dispatched his 15th goal of the season into the bottom corner.
The home side should have doubled their lead just five minutes after the restart but Bendtner shot over from close range before Nasri just failed to connect with a low cross as Arsenal pressed forward.
The Gunners passed up another gilt-edged chance after a mistake allowed Emmanuel Eboue through on goal, but after delaying his shot he somehow fired wide and moments later John Arne Riise shot agonisingly off target at the other end.
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