Arsenal's lack of punch gives Roma hope

Defeats are seldom good but AS Roma coach Luciano Spalletti wore a relieved expression after Arsenal's lack of a knockout punch allowed his side to get away with a 1-0 reverse at the Emirates.

• Arsenal dominated the Champions League, last-16 first leg tie on Tuesday but only had Robin van Persie’s penalty to take to the Olympic Stadium in two weeks’ time. It will be a worry as Arsene Wenger’s team continue to struggle up front.
• Home fans vented their frustration at Nicklas Bendtner, still struggling to look the part in the absence of main striker Emmanuel Adebayor.
• One miss in the second half had the Dane holding his head in his hands and Wenger roaring with frustration on the sidelines.
• The return of Adebayor and Eduardo, who hurt his hamstring last week in his comeback from a broken leg, cannot come soon enough.
• BENDTNER WOES
• The manager preferred to laud the qualities of Samir Nasri and Denilson but his brief reply to the questions of Bendtner’s woes spoke volumes.
• “Maybe he lacked a bit of spontaneous attitude because we want to play so well and do so much,” Wenger said of the Dane who did however play a role in Van Persie winning a penalty.
• Wenger, whose side have drawn three consecutive league games 0-0, believes one goal in Rome will be enough to go through.
• “The next game will of course be an interesting one because they will throw a lot more (players) forward,” he said.
• Spalletti will be without midfielder Daniele De Rossi for the second leg after he picked up a yellow card.
• “They (Arsenal) were different to what I had seen from them recently, lots of pace, running and intensity,” he said.
• “I think we have the same chance to go through as them, maybe 51 percent to 49 percent in their favour.”