Alex sends Arsenal tumbling out

LONDON, March 8 (Reuters) PSV Eindhoven's Brazilian defender Alex turned from villain to hero when the Dutch club earned a 1-1 draw at Arsenal to reach the Champions League quarter-finals 2-1 on aggregate.

A disappointing game, which broke a Champions League record for foreign players, looked to be heading for extra time after Alex inadvertently prodded a corner into his own net in the 58th minute at the Emirates Stadium to level the aggregate score of the first knockout round tie yesterday.

Young Brazilian Denilson swung in a corner and the unfortunate Alex could only watch in horror as the ball cannoned off his foot into the net.

However, with Arsenal searching in vain for the second goal that would have put them in their third quarter-final in four seasons, Alex soared above the home defence to head his side level seven minutes from time.

PSV had to weather a storm after the own goal but survived and then punished Arsenal when the home side conceded a needless free kick near the corner flag. Edison Mendez, scorer of the winner in the first leg, swung the ball in and Alex arced his header beyond a despairing Jens Lehmann.

The goal sparked wild celebrations from a large travelling army of Dutch fans and a mass exodus from disgruntled home fans who watched their side's last hopes of silverware vanish.

TRIPLE DISAPPOINTMENT In less than two weeks, Arsenal have suffered defeat in three cup competitions, losing to Chelsea in the League Cup final and then being bounced out of the FA Cup by Blackburn Rovers.

''It's a massive disappointment for us,'' Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told reporters. ''We didn't take our chances in the first half and it was a repetition of the first leg.

''We were not sharp physically and lacked quality in the final third. Alex won the game for them on his own tonight, he dominated in the air and kept them tight at the back.'' Wenger also confirmed that Thierry Henry, who came on as a second-half substitute, had torn a stomach muscle.

PSV coach Ronald Koeman paid tribute to his side's tenacity.

''We worked very hard and had the right attitude,'' Koeman, who was also in charge of Benfica when they knocked out Liverpool last season, told reporters.

''Considering the problems we've had with injuries this is unbelievable and I'm very proud. The biggest compliment I can give is the way we survived after the unlucky own goal.

''Arsenal didn't continue to pressure us and it seemed like they were doubting themselves a bit.'' The Gunners had only managed seven goals in this year's competition before Wednesday and they spent most of the night huffing and puffing while Henry watched from the bench.

When he did get on he almost won the tie when his free kick brought a flying save from PSV keeper Gomes.

Cocu was the only Dutch player in PSV's starting line-up while Arsenal did not include one English player on a night that had 16 different nationalities in the starting 22.

REUTERS SAM VC1042