Napoli 2 - Arsenal 0: Gunners progress after firing blanks

ARSENAL battled their way into the knockout stages of the Champions League with a gritty display in Naples last night.

TOUGH TIME: Arsenal were given a fright by Napoli as they clung on to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League [AFP/GETTY]

Although they went down 2-0, they still qualified for the last 16 in second place in Group A behind Borussia Dortmund.

The Gunners pipped Napoli on goal difference, by two goals, with all three teams finishing on 12 points.

But Arsenal’s place in the last 16 came at a price with skipper Mikel Arteta sent off and suspended for the next game.

Gonzalo Higuain, the man Arsenal tried to sign in the summer, got the 73rd-minute goal which broke the deadlock.

And within three minutes Arteta was sent off for a second yellow card in the space of 10 minutes, first for a foul on Behrami and then for felling Jose Callejon with an innocuous challenge.

But despite that Arsenal limited Napoli to one goal until the last kick of the game when Callejon lofted in the second.

Napoli had been on course to go through with the Gunners until Dortmund went ahead against winless ­Marseille three minutes from time. ­

Napoli had needed a three-goal win to deny Arsene Wenger’s men.

Napoli’s opening goal came after Arsenal had put up a strong display and had the greater share of the play.

But when Callejon put through Higuain, he turned his man and fired low beyond Wojciech Szczesny.

EARLY BATH: Arteta's red card left Arsenal clinging on for the final 15 minutes [PAUL CHILDS/ACTION IMAGES]

Wenger did not tinker with his defence, with Carl Jenkinson retaining his place for the injured Bacary Sagna.

But Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere dropped to the bench and there was no start for Theo Walcott.
The excitable stadium announcer played a classic Guns ‘N’ Roses track, ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, with the volume turned up to 11, as Arsenal’s players warmed up on the pitch.

Its message of “Watch it bring you to your knees, I wanna watch you bleed”, a reminder to Arsenal of what a cauldron the San Paolo is on big match nights.
But most of Arsenal’s travelling fans weren’t there to hear it, or even see the kick-off.

They took the official buses to the stadium, but the buses were late setting off, got stuck in traffic and the ­supporters were still streaming in 10 minutes into the match.
A victory, then, for Napoli’s ultras, as the fans had only taken the buses because of fears for their safety if they travelled without police protection.

Their mood was not helped by a heavy-handed police approach when they did get to the turnstiles, causing panic and a surge.
They missed little – both teams treating the ball like a hot potato and giving it away frequently.
Finally Napoli found some rhythm and opened up Arsenal but found Per Mertesacker in man mountain mood.

Dries Mertens robbed Kieran Gibbs and cracked a 50-yard pass to Goran Pandev.
He cut into the area but Mertesacker shepherded him wide and Pandev could only shoot at Szczesny.
When Mesut Ozil gave the ball away to Pablo Armero, ­Mertacker again rescued his team, ­extending a telescopic leg to cut out a ­dangerous cross.

After 23 minutes Arsenal fashioned their first real chance with Mathieu Flamini the unlikely provider as he surged forward.
He found Giroud, who shot well but Rafael Cabral was able to beat the ball away.
It fell to Ozil but he slipped as he was about to shoot and mis-kicked.

WENGING IT: Wenger will not be too pleased with having to face one of Europe's elite in the next round [AFP/GETTY] 
 

Christian Maggio had the best chance of the half, bursting clear and chipping over Szczesny, but also just over the bar.
Just before half-time Szczesny almost gave Napoli a gift when his clearance struck Higuain on the head, but fortunately for him the ball bounced into the side-netting.

Flamini put in another impressive ­performance.
He ventured further ­forward than usual and was superb at breaking up Napoli moves before they ­entered more dangerous territory.
Napoli boss Rafa Benitez urged his team forward in the second half but for 30 ­minutes they ran into a red wall.

On the few occasions they did break through they were let down by weak finishing.
Armero shot straight at Szczesny and Callejon arrowed one wide from the ­other flank.
Higuain turned wonderfully on the edge of the area and fed Callejon again but his shot was blocked.
Higuain was not to be denied when the next chance came his way.

He sidestepped Laurent Koscielny to make space and buried a left-foot shot into the corner of the net.
The announcer went into overdrive. Gonzalo, he bellowed, a dozen times.
The home fans were stoked, Arsenal rattled. Then Arteta, already on a yellow card, lunged into another challenge.
The referee immediately issued another yellow, then a red. Wenger was furious with the decision.