Arsenal Robbed Against Porto by The Same Referee Who Cheated Ireland in France

The most popular referee in Ireland was back to his old tricks tonight, as he robbed Arsenal in their 2-1 defeat to Porto in the Dragao Stadium. First of all, he took the ball from Fabianski to set up the quick free before obstructing Sol Campbell as he tried to get goal-side. On top of that, he also waved away a definite penalty, after Rosicky was taken down.

It was not a good night in the office for the Gunners who were bereft of ideas of the vast majority of the match. Heading into the game they were robbed of four important players through injury and their replacements were key in giving the match to their obstinate Portuguese opponents.

For their part, Porto deserved the win, as they created the most chances and always looked like they were about to score. But, they had to get help from two Arsenal players to get those valuable goals.

This match was Sol Campbell's first appearance in the Champions League since scoring in the 2006 final, where Arsenal were beaten 2-1 by Barcelona. Parachuted in at the last moment due to the departures of William Gallas and Manuel Almunia through injury, the eye was always going to be on Campbell and Fabianski in particular.

Arsene Wenger did his young Polish 'keeper no favours this week when he described him as a young David Seaman and the youngster had a major part to play in both Porto goals.

The two goals were self inflicted schoolboy errors, with Fabianski and Campbell being the two main culprits.

The opener was a real howler. Gael Clichy is still suffering a poor run of form since coming back to the team after injury. He was little more than a spectator, as Silvestre Varela tore past him on the wing before whipping in a cross that Fabianski helped into the back of the net!

Porto went ahead 1-0 after just eleven minutes, which was probably the worst possible start for the Gunners.

Arsenal equalized through, with help from Campbell as he headed home a ball from six yards, after meeting Tomas Rosicky's headed cross following Cesc Fabregas' deep corner.

It was a real fairy tale return for the defender who was playing in League Two only five months ago and it also meant that he has scored in his last two Champions League games, even though they were 45 months apart!

He had a good first half, but his legs are gone at this level and the further the game went on, the further off the pace he moved. The head may be willing, but his legs are wilting. He was caught out of place time and time again by Porto counter attacks as the match wore on.

The second and winning goal was an absolute comedy of events worthy of a William Shakespeare farce.

First of all, Sol Campbell passed the ball back to Fabianski, who instead of clearing, picked the ball up, which gave an indirect free kick away. Schoolboy error number one.

Referee Martin Hansson charged in with his arm in the air, signalling the dead ball. Fabianski then backed off with the ball, while Campbell held his head in his hands at his terrible mistake.

Neither got back into position. Schoolboy error number two.

The ref asked Fabianski for the ball and he gave it to him! Schoolboy error number three.

The rest of the Arsenal team looked on dumbfound and not getting back to their positions. Schoolboy error number four.

Campbell finally wakes up and decides to get back into position, but the referee blocks him!

With a quick free-kick, Porto once again took the lead, as Falcao slapped the ball into the net.

While the ref was quite right in awarding the free kick, he was wrong to demand the ball back from Fabianski and to give it to Porto so quickly. In essence, he aided the quick free kick. Referees are meant to be impartial and while he was right to ask for the ball, which any goalkeeper worth his salt would have held onto while his defence gets organized, he should not have given it to Porto and should have allowed Arsenal time to set up.

This situation is different from a quick free-kick in a normal situation where the free taking player already has the ball. Tonight, Hansson aided the situation by giving the ball, a cardinal error. Again, this is the same referee who made a terrible decision in Paris by allowing William Gallas' goal to stand, after a blatant handball by ex-Arsenal striker Thierry Henry.

Minutes before Porto's second goal Hansson made another terrible call, as Tomas Rosicky wriggled his way into the Porto box before being unceremoniously upended by a clumsy tackle from behind.

It was a definite foul and penalty, but Michel Platini's favourite World Cup referee waved play on while Arsenal's players wondered what had just happened.

As mentioned before, Porto was the better side and deserved the win. Brazilian centre-forward Hulk caused Vermaelen and Campbell all kinds of problems and were it not for some smart 'keeping from Fabianski, the Gunners would have found the deficit to be even worse.

The 2-1 scoreline means that the tie is very much open and despite Arsenal doing very little in this game, they will be relatively confident of winning the return leg by two goals to take them through to the quarterfinals.

Porto will be hoping that Campbell and Fabianski will be there for the return leg, but one gets the impression that this might be the last time we get to see the young Polish 'keeper this season.

This article was also published at Premier League Report .