Sport 08-12-2004 Arsenal Progress With Finesse who: Arsenal what: Beat Rosenborg BK 5-1 to finish knock-out stage as leaders of Group E where: Highbury, LONDON when: Last night snippet: Arsenal finished the knock-out stage of the Champions` League as Group E winners last night with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Rosenborg BK at Highbury on an otherwise disappointing night for Britain`s top clubs in Europe. "Jose Reyes, with his first goal in two months, Cesc Fabregas - now the club`s youngest European goalscorer at just 17 - Thierry Henry and Robert Pires put Arsenal out of sight before half-time," says The Scotsman. "With substitute Robin van Persie rounding off the scoring late on, this, however, was still a game which Arsenal`s Carling Cup side could probably have won." Meanwhile, Celtic and AC Milan were unable to break the stalemate at Parkhead, putting an end to the Glaswegians` campaign. They finished rock bottom in Group F and, explains The Scotsman, "Shakhtar Donetsk`s 2-0 defeat of Barcelona in Ukraine combined with the result in Glasgow to deprive Celtic of a place in February`s UEFA Cup third round". Jose Mourinho made a disappointing return to his former club as FC Porto beat Chelsea 2-1. "Although Chelsea had already qualified as group winners," says Steve Tongue at The Independent, Mourinho "did the honourable thing in picking a strong side, which slipped to only a second defeat in 25 matches under him." Moreover, he vigorously disputed the suggestion that the outcome, which allowed Porto to qualify as Group H runners-up, "was suspiciously diplomatic". "I`m not pleased [for Porto]," says Mourinho, "I can`t be when my team lose. Only stupid people don`t understand that. But I think Porto deserve to qualify because they are the second best team in the group." [... more]

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