Arsenal script great escape

Arsenals Eduardo da Silva,playing two days after his diving ban was lifted on appeal,celebrated his reprieve by scoring a late winner in a dramatic 3-2 Champions League win at Standard Liege on Wednesday. The Brazilian-born Croatia striker netted from close range with nine minutes to go,three minutes after Thomas Vermaelen had drawn them level.

Eduardo was also at fault for Standards first goal as the Belgians went 2-0 up inside five minutes. Liege went ahead after two minutes when he tried a back-heeled flick on the edge of the area but the ball fell to Eliaquim Mangala,who fired past third-choice goalkeeper Vito Mannone. Milan Jovanovic then won and converted a fifth-minute penalty to double the lead for the group stage debutants. Nicklas Bendtner pulled one back for Arsenal on the stroke of halftime and that changed the complexion of the game.

Second half Arsenal pressure ended with Belgian international Vermaelen scrambling the ball over the goal-line in the 78th minute following a Cesc Fabregas free kick. Another lapse in Liege8217;s concentration allowed Eduardo to turn and fire home Fabregass corner three minutes later.

No goals in Milan

Holders Barcelona kicked off with a goalless draw at Inter Milan in the nights top match with Samuel Etoo,who left the Catalans for Inter in the close season,and Zlatan Ibrahimovic,who moved in the opposite direction,failing to manage a shot on target.

Five-time European Cup winners Liverpool beat Hungarian outsiders Debrecen 1-0 at Anfield in the Group E fixture after Dirk Kuyt scored in the first-half stoppage time. Lyon overcame 10-man Fiorentina 1-0 due to a late goal by Miralem Pjanic.