Valencia flex their muscles

By Carlos Urrutia

Usually in Valencia, the night of the Fallas festival peaks with fireworks at midnight. Tonight, though, the city lit up early as John Carew's two goals put Valencia CF into the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals at the expense of Arsenal FC.

Absent players
The victory left the Spanish club's coach, Rafael Benítez, hailing the players who fought for the 2-1 success, and those denied an opportunity to do so. "I want to dedicate victory to Kily González, Rubén Baraja and Curro Torres - our three absent players," he said, Baraja having been suspended for the match and the other two missing through injury. Benítez continued: "I said yesterday I was convinced we were going to win the match, and this victory confirms our strength."

'A great night'
His side certainly showed character in both halves, particularly after Thierry Henry had equalised just after the break. "I think Arsenal lost a bit of their usual style in the second half, playing lots of long passes," Benítez said. "Maybe that benefited us, but this has been a great night for Carew. He has found the prize he has deserved."

Cañizares injured
The Valencia goalkeeper, Santiago Cañizares, was taken off on a stretcher 20 minutes from the end after Fredrik Ljungberg's boot accidentally caught his head, but Benítez said his captain had only "a cut on his face" which was "impossible to sew on the pitch".

Arsenal depart
While Valencia are through as Group B winners, AFC Ajax's draw at AS Roma means Arsenal, for the second year running, depart at this stage. The season before they had made the last eight - only to be knocked out at the Mestalla. Arsène Wenger admitted it was a painful experience to again watch his side depart the competition without realising their full potential.

'Very hard blow'
"It has been a disappointing night," said the London club's French manager. "We did not deserve to lose the game, it has been a very hard blow for us. As we are all in the same boat, the responsibility of not qualifying is for all of us." Arsenal were certainly on top before John Carew placed the ball past Stuart Taylor, replacing the injured David Seaman, on 34 minutes.

'Just one chance'
When Henry deservedly equalised, it seemed the Gunners were on their way. When Carew quickly responded to score again, the visitors seemed to run out of steam. Wenger said: "Valencia had just one chance in the first half and they scored from it. In the second half we were not able to play fluently. After Valencia's second goal we did not create chances. But I trust in our mental strength to recover from this defeat."

'Dreaming is free'
Valencia, though, can now bid for a third final appearance in four seasons. Defender Roberto Ayala, who had a typically assured game, said: "After this victory, why can't we make the final? Dreaming is free." Ayala's central defensive partner, Mauricio Pellegrino, added: "We did not panic when Henry scored, and we have got a great victory against a very good team."

Fortress Mestalla
The Spanish champions will find out their opponents in the knockout stage on Friday, but whoever they draw out of Real Madrid CF, Juventus FC or Internazionale FC, the second leg will be back at the Mestalla - a trip no side will relish.