LONDON, Mar 8 (SW) - The depleted defense of Arsenal held firm again on Wednesday night as they secured a 0-0 draw with Real Madrid to advance to the quarter-finals of the Champions League 1-0 on aggregate.

Early on, Madrid had a chance as Ronaldo hit a header towards goal, but the effort was pushed behind for a corner kick by Jens Lehmann, and Roberto Carlos hit a speculative effort wide just moments later.

Arsenal were not going to sit firm on their narrow lead and Cesc Fabregas had a gilt-edged chance to add to the Gunners' total in the 19th minute, but with Iker Casillas helpless, a diving Michel Salgado blocked the shot.

David Beckham forced Lehmann into a tricky save with a low drive in the 26th minute, but the best chance for either side came just before the interval as Thierry Henry played José Antonio Reyes in on goal, but the young Spaniards laser crashed against the crossbar to leave the match scoreless at the break.

Off a free kick in the 52nd minute, Beckham almost gave Madrid the lead when his overhit ball landed on the top of the Arsenal goal with goalkeeper Lehmann left nowhere in sight.

Raúl will feel very unlucky not to have given the visitors a goal right on the hour mark as he missed two chances to level the tie. A shot from 20 yards went smashing off the post, but his effort on the rebound sailed right across the face of goal and Lehmann did well to stop it.

After Madrid introduced Julio Baptista for added firepower, it was Arsenal who nearly got a priceless goal as Henry sent a low shot headed right for the corner, but the finger of Casillas was able to magnificently push it away on 75 minutes.

With Casillas pushing forward late on in search of a goal, it nearly cost Madrid as Robert Pires had an effort from a mile away, but Roberto Carlos scurried back to stop the ball on the line to keep hopes alive.

The match then got into added time and Madrid gave the Gunners and their fans the scare of the night when substitute Robinho fired in a low drive that had a chance to go in, but Lehmann made another fine save to secure progress to the final eight.

Arsenal: Lehmann; Eboué, Touré, Senderos, Flamini; Hleb (Bergkamp 87), Fabregas, Gilberto, Reyes (Pires 68); Ljungberg; Henry.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Salgado (Robinho 84), Ramos, Bravo, Roberto Carlos; Gravesen (Baptista 68), Beckham, Guti; Raul (Cassano 73), Ronaldo.
Booked: Henry 83; Guti 15, Roberto Carlos 44, Gravesen 62, Bravo 85
Referee: Lubos Michel (SVK)