STANDARD LIEGE 2, ARSENAL 3

Nicklas Bendtner praised his side's spirit after Arsenal fought back from going 2-0 down inside five minutes to win their opening Champions League Group H clash away to Standard Liege.

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Bendtner scored on the stroke of half-time to halve the deficit and late goals from Thomas Vermaelen and Eduardo completed the comeback.

"It was very important," Bendtner told Sky Sports.

"We fought all the way through to the end and then we were rewarded.

"I don't know what happened at the beginning. I think it was a mixture of bad luck, the penalty and the goal...it's difficult to come back when two goals down but we showed great spirit.

"We knew we could win it and we went on to do it."

Bendtner reserved special praise for Eduardo, who was only available tonight because the club successfully appealed against UEFA's two-match ban imposed for diving against Celtic in the second leg of the qualifying tie.

He added: "It was fantastic. He always comes up with goals at important times.

"It's pleasing for him and pleasing for us."

Arsenal's other goalscorer, Vermaelen, insisted the Gunners were always confident of winning the game.

"Most of the time, we had the ball and we were just looking for a good gap for the goal," said the Belgium international.

"In the second half, we were confident the goal would come.

"We scored just before half-time and that was important for our spirit and it's negative for theirs.

"I think it was the most important goal of the evening."

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