Without ever being at their best Arsenal progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League for the 11th successive season with a 3-1 win over Partizan Belgrade at The Emirates. Against opposition who have now lost all their six group games Arsenal struggled for the three points they needed to be assured of a place in the next round.
A Robin van Persie penalty on the half-hour after the Dutchman had been fouled seemed to have set the Gunners up for an easy night.
But when Partizan levelled just after the break with their first dangerous attack of note through Cleo, doubt began to creep into the host's game.
Only the introduction of substitute Theo Walcott calmed the nerves with an injection of pace and a volleyed goal on 73 minutes.
Samir Nasri wrapped things up with another moment of class from the Frenchman but even that was not enough to give them top spot in group H and a chance to avoid the elite when the draw is made for the next stage.
Bacary Sagna was then shown a red card in the closing stages for a foul on Aleksandar Lazevski to end the night on a subdued note for Arsene Wenger's men.
Referee: Paolo Tagliavento (Italy)
Venue: Emirates Stadium Attendance: 58,845
Arsenal scorers: Van Persie (pen) 30, Walcott 73, Nasri 77 Partizan scorers: Cleo 52
ARSENAL 21 Fabianski 03 Sagna (red card) 06 Koscielny 18 Squillaci 28 Gibbs (Eboue 23) 08 Nasri 15 Denilson 17 A Song 23 Arshavin (Walcott 67) 10 Van Persie 29 Chamakh (Bendtner 76)
Substitutes 53 Szczesny, 27 Eboue, 07 Rosicky, 14 Walcott, 19 Wilshere, 11 Vela, 52 Bendtner
PARTIZAN BELGRADE 88 Stojkovic 13 Jovanovic 15 Stefan Savic 18 Lazevski 20 Krstajic (yellow card) 04 Medo 08 Petrovic 10 Moreira (Brasanac 90+1) 22 Ilic 25 Babovic (Davidov 80) 09 Cleo
Substitutes 33 Ilic, 06 Stankovic, 27 Kizito, 14 Brasanac, 99 Smiljanic, 23 Davidov, 77 Iliev
