Arsenal’s hopes of clinching Champions League knock-out stage qualification with one Group H game remaining were dashed on a disastrous night in Portugal.

Two late breakaway goals consigned the Gunners to their second consecutive away defeat in the group.

And they lost Cesc Fabregas and Emanuel Eboue to injury, Eboue after they had already made their three permitted substitutions.

The game was largely uneventful until the closing stages, when controversy brought things to life.

Arsenal substitute Carlos Vela was upended in the penalty area in the 77^th minute by Braga’s Alberto Rodriguez but was booked for diving by referee Viktor Kassai.

Moments later, Eboue was stretchered off after wrenching his knee in a midfield exchange.

And ten-man Arsenal were still re-organising their defence when Matheus ran through a huge gap down the middle before curling a neat left-foot shot past Gunners keeper Lukasz Fabianski on 83 minutes.

Deep into stoppage time, with Arsenal pressing unconvincingly for the equaliser which would have ensured qualification, Matheus broke clear again and evaded three fast-retreating Arsenal defenders before smashing another left-foot shot past Fabianski.

Home victory over bottom club FC Partizan will ensure qualification. But anything less will leave them in danger of exit.