Group B/Thun - 0 Arsenal - 1: If Robert Pires was ever going to contrive to miss a penalty it should have been last night. The Frenchman, whose spot-kick failure against Manchester City was much mocked, made no mistake when presented with a chance to give Arsenal a result they probably did not deserve and guarantee that they progress as group winners.
Twice Thun had the ball in Arsenal's net only to be denied by the linesmen.
When Robin van Persie fell over Selver Hodzic's leg in the 88th minute, the referee shook his head indignantly at the Dutchman and few would have debated his decision. But among that number was his assistant, who awarded Pires his penalty.
Even the most hardened Arsenal fan would feel some sympathy for a 10-man Thun side that proved so stoic for so long.
Though Arsenal had secured progress to the competition's knockout phase, they needed another three points to guarantee being seeded.
Thun attempted to stem Arsenal's counter-attacking with the centre-back Ljubo Milicevic deployed in a holding-midfield role. It had the effect of compressing the home side, their defence positioned high up the pitch, which invited Arsenal to lift passes into the space just in front of Eldin Jakupovic's area.
The visitors came close to converting this currency when José Antonio Reyes showed such swiftness of thought from a free-kick as to play in Van Persie 20 yards out. Though he had space, time and the company of Thierry Henry with which to score, he shot hastily, and Jakupovic saved.
Van Persie had Arsenal's best early opportunity. He was sent clear by Freddie Ljungberg's low variation on the forward ball, but as he pulled away from Armand Deumi, the defender clipped his heels on the edge of the box. Deumi was dismissed, but Van Persie could not find a way to goal with the free-kick.
Thun emerged from the break invigorated and five minutes later they had the ball in the net. Philippe Senderos was wrong-footed on the edge of Arsenal's area, allowing Mauro Lustrinelli to play in Nelson Ferreira, however the latter was deemed to have been offside.
Then Ferreira swung in a free-kick from deep. Almunia, foxed by the run of Silvan Aegerter, again had to pick the ball from the back of his net; again, though, Thun were dismayed by the linesman's flag. Eventually, though, the officials would have an even more decisive effect.
Guardian Service
FC THUN: Jakupovic, Orman, Hodzic, Deumi, Goncalves (Bernardi 90), Ferreira, Milicevic, Aegerter, Leandro, Adriano, Lustrinelli (Sen 84). Subs Not Used: Portmann, Duruz, Gelson, Spadoto, Faye. Sent Off: Deumi (35). Booked: Aegerter, Lustrinelli, Ferreira.
ARSENAL: Almunia, Eboue, Senderos, Campbell, Cygan (Lauren 67), Ljungberg, Song Billong (Fabregas 56), Flamini, Reyes, Henry (Pires 70), Van Persie. Subs Not Used: Poom, Bendtner, Djourou, Lupoli. Booked: Cygan, Reyes, Lauren. Goals: Pires 88 pen.
Referee: L Cardoso Cortez Batista (Portugal).
