SoccerNews.com

A first-half penalty from Robin van Persie was enough to hand Arsenal a 1-0 victory over AS Roma in their second round clash played at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal were given the perfect opportunity to open the score on 37 minutes as Philippe Mexes fouled Robin van Persie in the penalty area. Mexes could have been worse off though, as a yellow card would have been his second in this game.

Van Persie himself took the penalty and the Dutchman struck into bottom corner with keeper Doni going the other way.

Roma will now need to win when they host Arsenal at the Stadio Olimpico on March 11th, and need to avoid possibly lethal away goals.

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