• Champions League round-up

Arsenal denied at the death as Chelsea down Leverkusen

Robin van Persie gave Arsenal the lead shortly before half-time © Getty Images

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A last-gasp equaliser from substitute Ivan Perisic denied Arsenal as they were held 1-1 by Borussia Dortmund, while Chelsea got their Champions League campaign off to a winning start at home to Bayer Leverkusen.

Robin van Persie looked to have secured all three points for the Gunners, but Arsenal rode their luck defensively, and they were punished by Perisic in the dying minutes.

New signing Per Mertesacker had been brought in on transfer deadline day to shore up the Gunners defence, but the Arsenal back four looked fragile in the opening stages as the German champions enjoyed a number of early chances, notably through Robert Lewandowski, whose effort was cleared off the line by Bacary Sagna after the Pole had rounded his international team-mate Wojciech Szczesny.

Having weathered the early storm, van Persie fired Arsenal ahead, intercepting a Sebastian Kehl pass before playing a neat one-two with Theo Walcott before powering past Roman Weidenfeller.

But just moments after defender Santos replaced van Persie in an attempt to see out the final minutes, Perisic equalised in stunning fashion after the Gunners defence failed to clear their lines from a free-kick, and his superb volley flew past the unsighted Szczesny.

Fernando Torres returned to the Chelsea line-up, but it was defender David Luiz who was on the scoresheet as the Blues claimed a 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen at Stamford Bridge. Luiz, who like £50 million signing Torres arrived at Chelsea in the January transfer window, netted his third Chelsea goal with a superb curled second-half effort.

Michael Ballack returned to Chelsea with Bayer Leverkusen © Getty Images

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Just moments after the German side had taken off former Blues man Michael Ballack to a standing ovation, Luiz broke the deadlock, starting the move with a barnstorming run into Leverkusen territory, before receiving the ball on the edge of the penalty area and firing a low shot past Bernd Leno.

Chelsea's newest signing, Raul Meireles, who arrived on deadline day from Liverpool, thought he had scored his first Blues goal, but his early effort was disallowed for offside. A cross from Juan Mata was flicked goalwards by Torres, and Meireles got the last touch with a backheel but he was flagged offside.

While Chelsea enjoyed the majority of the possession, they struggled to convert their chances, but Torres unselfishly set up Juan Mata to slide home in the final minute to seal the victory.

European champions Barcelona began the defence of their title with a 2-2 draw at home to AC Milan, who scored in both the first and last minute of the Champions League Group H opener.

Alex Pato stunned the Camp Nou crowd after just 24 seconds to put Milan ahead, but Barca fought back with a Pedro strike from close range and a delightful free-kick from David Villa putting them back into the lead. However, Pep Guardiola's side were to be denied at the death, as Thiago Silva leapt highest to head the Rossoneri level more than 90 minutes after they had opened the scoring.

In Arsenal's group, Marseille went top of Group F with a 1-0 victory at Olympiakos, while Chelsea's Group E opponents Genk and Valencia played out a goalless draw.

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