Gunners salvage pride at home turf

Goalkeeper Helton believes FC Porto will take a while to come to terms with their humbling UEFA Champions League exit against Arsenal FC – having lost 5-0 in north London to bow out 6-2 on aggregate in the first knockout round.

The 31-year-old was beaten twice by Nicklas Bendtner before the break, and although the Portuguese champions briefly threatened a second-half comeback – Samir Nasri clearing substitute Cristián Rodríguez's header off the line – further goals from Nasri, Emmanuel Eboué and Bendtner completed the rout.

"We tried to react and keep our shape, as we did after conceding a goal in the first leg, but unfortunately we weren't able to," Helton said. "To lose a game like this, in the manner we did, isn't easy to accept."

The result was an even more chastening experience than Porto's 4-0 defeat by Arsène Wenger's side in last season's group stage. Bendtner started the scoring in the tenth minute, prodding into an empty net after a collision between Helton and defender Fucile, which left the goalkeeper requiring lengthy treatment. "After the collision I don't know what went on," he added. "Of course the ball ended up in the back of the net, but I didn't see anything."

Helton, capped three times by Brazil, was largely blameless for the goals conceded, even receiving praise from the Portuguese media for a string of first-half saves from Bendtner, Nasri and Andrey Arshavin which kept the tie in the balance. That, however, was no consolation. "It's very kind for people to say that, but I don't do the work that I do thinking only of myself," he said. "Unfortunately we went out in the way we did, and I can only feel very sad."