Van Persie (pen) 30       Cleo 52

                                                                                                           Nasri 77

Arsenal edged into the Champions League knock-out stages with a far-from-convincing home win over bottom-of-the-table Serbs Partizan.

Two late goals in four minutes sealed victory, when a draw could have seen them exit the competition entirely.

The Gunners led at the break, Robin Van Persie slamming home from the spot on 30 minutes after winning the penalty by falling under minimal contact from Marko Jankovic.

But neither side mustered an on-target shot from open play during a low-key half.

Arsenal improved after the interval, with Samr Nasri blazing over on 48 minutes after the first incisive move of the match.

But they were pegged back four minutes later when Cleo’s shot from the edge of the box was deflected over diving keeper Lukasz Fabianski and into the net.

Arsenal didn’t regain the lead until substitute Theo Walcott latched onto a poor defensive header by Jankovic and powered a right-foot shot past Partizan keeper Vladimir Stojkovic in the 73^rd minute.

But they sealed victory when Nasri swept the ball home majestically from 12 yards after skilfully controlling Alexandre Song’s pass.

Right-back Bacary Sagna was dismissed late on for fouling Aleksandar Lazevski just outside the area when he was through on goal.