5 Best Arsenal performances against Italian sides in Europe

Roma 2008/09

Arsenal players celebrate after winning on penalties

Arsenal came up against an Italian side in the Champions League again in the 2008/09 campaign. Like the previous tie against AC Milan, it was in the Round of 16.

Arsenal were heavy favorites for this tie, however, were missing their midfield maestro Cesc Fabregas through injury.

They didn't appear to miss their key man in the first-leg, dominating their Italian counterparts throughout the 90 minutes in North London.

The home signed took the lead through a calmly finished Robin Van Persie penalty after Phillipe Mexes had brought down the Dutch centre forward unfairly.

There was a peculiar incident at the beginning of the second-half as Arsenal started the second period with just nine men on the pitch. Captain William Gallas was receiving treatment in the dressing room as the second half got underway and the superstitious Kolo Toure waited on his defensive partner as he always is the last to leave the dressing room.

The extraordinary mishap didn't stop Arsene Wenger's men from coming out victorious, however, they could have taken more than a slender one-goal lead to Italy's capital after Danish striker Bendtner missed a handful of chances to double Arsenal's advantage.

The second leg was the polar opposite from the previous match as Roma dominated from start to finish. The Italian outfit took the lead in the opening 10 minutes as Juan slotted past Manuel Almunia after some shambolic defending from the away side.

The game finished 1-0 (1-1 on aggregate) which meant extra time and after that was goal-less penalties.

Both sides matched each other after seven penalties, scoring six each. However, it was Tonetto for Roma who fired his spot-kick over the crossbar to send Arsenal into the quarter-finals of the competition.