Shoot-out joy for Gunners

Brazilian defender Juan capitalised on some poor defending to fire the Italians in front and level the tie after just 10 minutes.

The Gunners grew in stature as the match went on, but could not find a way through as extra-time passed - with Roma's Max Tonetto missing a crucial sudden-death spot-kick.

Roma had started the better, and it was no surprise when they took the lead. Arsenal failed to clear their lines, as Francesco Totti swept a low cross into the penalty area, which was completely missed by both William Gallas and Kolo Toure and went through the legs of Rodrigo Taddei.

The ball rolled all the way to Juan at the far post, and the Brazilian defender thumped his shot past Manuel Almunia.

The Spanish goalkeeper was then called into action to deny Marco Motta with a strong block at the near post before tipping the follow-up strike from Taddei behind at full stretch.

In the final moments of the first half, Roma were screaming for a penalty when Motta charged into the right side of the Arsenal box and went down under the challenge of Gael Clichy, but the referee was unimpressed.

As the game went into extra-time but sides had chances to win it, but it was left for penalties to decide who would go through to the last eight.

Eduardo saw his opening effort saved by Alexander Doni, but Mirko Vucinic stabbed his straight at Almunia three kicks later. Theo Walcott, Julio Baptista, Samir Nasri and Denilson all scored, before Totti stepped up to send the shoot-out into sudden death at 4-4.

Toure coolly dispatched his effort, as did Bacary Sagna and then John Arne Riise for Roma. With the tally at 6-6, Abou Diaby slotted home before the pressure got to Tonetto as he blazed the ball over and the Gunners were into the quarter-finals.